Jamie Blamire scored two tries for Leicester Tigers, with George Martin, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Adam Radwan and Freddie Steward additionally crossing; Northampton’s defeat is simply their second of the Gallagher Prem season
Final Up to date: 09/05/26 6:39pm
Leicester Tigers defeated Northampton Saints in a ill-tempered East Midlands derby
Leicester Tigers bolstered their Gallagher Prem title hopes with a powerful 41-17 victory over Northampton Saints in a feisty East Midlands derby.
Hooker Jamie Blamire crossed for a brace of tries as Leicester bared their title-chasing tooth, with native rivals Northampton failing to increase their lead on the prime of the desk and falling to only their second league defeat of the season.
Geoff Parling’s aspect produced a convincing and commanding show to indicate they imply enterprise within the remaining stretch of the season, working in six tries and dominating all through to maneuver inside 5 factors of prime spot.
Saints arrived hoping to clinch a bonus-point win to safe their play-off place however skilled their first lack of 2026, as Leicester – in entrance of a sell-out residence crowd at Mattioli Woods Welford Highway – celebrated an enormous psychological victory within the title race.
The competition noticed a file variety of playing cards for this fixture – 5 yellows, whereas Tigers’ Izaia Perese received a late pink card.
Northampton endure setback in fiery derby
Leicester dominated the primary half and secured three tries to carve out a 19-5 interval lead. James O’Connor – who changed the injured Billy Searle – was excellent at No 10, because the veteran Australia worldwide created momentum and strain for his aspect.
England lock George Martin opened the scoring as he had the simplest of duties to saunter throughout the road unchallenged after the ball was moved large. Saints – warned about indiscipline after a sequence of penalties – additionally misplaced No 8 Callum Chick to the sin bin for offside within the build-up.
The away aspect lit up this contest with a surprising strive, carrying the ball swiftly from inside their very own half earlier than Fraser Dingwall lastly offloaded to Tommy Freeman, who strolled over to attract stage – on 51 tries – with Ben Cohen as Northampton’s file Premiership scorer.
Tigers replied with Martin driving ahead after which the backs moved the ball large to Ollie Hassell-Collins, to waltz cross George Furbank for a strive within the left nook. O’Connor transformed and repeated the act a couple of minutes later when Blamire ploughed over for the hosts’ third strive from shut vary.
O’Connor kicked an early second-half penalty earlier than the hosts took full cost, with Jack van Poortvliet’s elegant volley over the defence pounced on by Adam Radwan to dive over.
Saints misplaced Josh Kemeny to the sin bin for foul play in stopping one other potential Leicester strive. Each Tigers prop Joe Heyes and Northampton substitute hooker Craig Wright adopted him off the sphere following a bust-up, after Blamire had claimed one other strive for the house aspect from a driving maul.
When full-back Freddie Steward raced by means of a niche to cross over, the sport was completed as a contest and Saints turned to Henry Pollock off the bench. He was instantly threatened with punishment by referee Matthew Carley after a conflict with Hanro Liebenberg.
Tigers’ substitute hooker Charlie Clare was despatched to the sin bin for a swinging arm to Wright’s head at a ruck, whereas George Hendy scored a strive from Pollock’s cross.
There was nonetheless extra drama, with substitute wing Perese given a 20-minute pink card after 75 minutes for inflicting a conflict of heads with Furbank. Freeman crossed for his second strive, however Leicester have been already celebrating a major victory.
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