Leicester put Northampton to the sword in feisty East Midlands derby

The set-piece superiority flowed into nearly every other area. Tommy Reffell and Smith ran riot at the breakdown, Freddie Steward gobbled up every high ball that came his way and Adam Radwan repeatedly punctured the Saints defence. Saints were also denied any semblance of quick ball on which their attack thrives bar an early score from Tommy Freeman.

A late couple of scores from George Hendy and Freeman gave a hint of respectability that Northampton did not really deserve. “We were well beaten by a good side,” Phil Dowson, the Northampton director of rugby, said. “To get a thumping like that is painful. There are times when you’re going to take a hiding. It’s how you respond.”

Parling noted that Leicester found the right emotional edge and that was evident in their desire to pound their Midlands neighbours into the dust from the first minute to the last. It began with Martin’s first try in two years after good hands from Chessum. Freeman replied but Ollie Hassell-Collins breezed past George Furbank and then Blamire rumbled over after a close-range line-out move to give Leicester a 19-5 half-time lead.

Any semblance of a Northampton comeback was quickly snuffed out in the second half as James O’Connor added a penalty before Radwan gathered Jack Van Poortvliet’s beautifully weighted chip to register Leicester’s bonus point score.

After that it was effectively party time for Leicester as Blamire scored his second try from a maul after which Wright and Heyes were both sent to the sin-bin. Steward then brought up Leicester’s highest score against Saints in the league at home to cue wild celebrations. Even Perese’s red card for a head-on-head contact on Furbank could not dampen the mood around a sold out Welford Road. They believe in Parling’s team. So will everyone else after this.

Match details

Scoring sequence: 5-0, Martin try; 5-5, Freeman try; 10-5, Hassell-Collins try; 12-5, O’Connor con; 17-5, Blamire try; 19-5, O’Connor con; 22-5, O’Connor pen; 27-5, Radwan try; 29-5, O’Connor; 34-5, Blamire try; 39-5, Steward try; 41-5, Bailey con; 41-10, Hendy try; 41-12, Smith con; 41-17, Freeman try.

Leicester Tigers: F Steward; A Radwan (I Perese, 66), W Wand, O Bailey, O Hassell-Collins; J O’Connor (S Kata, 52), J Van Poortvliet (T Whiteley, 68); N Smith (A van der Flier, 57), J Blamire (C Clare, 66), J Heyes (W Hurd, 66), O Chessum, G Martin (C Henderson, 27-32, 56), H Liebenberg, T Reffell (S Williams, 66), J Moro. 
Yellow cards: J Heyes (50), C Clare (67). Red Cards: I Perese (75).

Northampton Saints: G Furbank; T Freeman (T Litchfield, 71), R Hutchinson (T Freeman, 75), F Dingwall, G Hendy; F Smith, A Mitchell (A McParland, 52); E Iyogun (T West, 57), R Smith (C Wright, 41), L Green (E Millar Mills, 57), C Munga (E Atuanya, 75), JJ van der Mescht (E Prowse), J Kemeny, S Graham (H Pollock, 53), C Chick. 
**Yellow cards:**C Chick (7), J Kemeny (48), C Wright (50).

Referee: M Carley

05:45pm

A match full of drama

Tempers were running high in the East Midlands Derby - David Rogers/Getty Images Europe

Despite coming on as a second half substitute, Henry Pollock was still involved in the chaos - David Rogers/Getty Images Europe

Respect shared by both clubs at the end of the match - David Rogers/Getty Images Europe

05:29pm

How the top of the table looks now

1. Northampton 62 points (15 played)

2. Bath 58 points (14 played)

3. Leicester 57 points (15 played)

05:06pm

FT: Leicester 41 Northampton 17

It’s full-time at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, where Leicester Tigers have claimed an emphatic 41-17 victory over Northampton Saints in the East Midlands Derby. The home side’s six tries means they’ve secured the bonus point win.

05:03pm

TRY! Northampton find another late try

Pollock bursts through after a Northampton scrum. Freeman is hugging the touchline and the ball is launched out to the winger, who powers towards the line to record another try.

05:01pm

78 min: Leicester 41 Northampton 12

With two tries and his incredible work at the scrum throughout the game, Leicester’s Blamire is named as the player of the match.

04:57pm

RED! Perese goes off

Furbank tries to race clear from inside his own 22 and he’s apprehended by Perese, who dispossesses him. The ball spills out and is passed out wide for Wand, who scores the try. After seeing the replays, it was a high tackle with head-to-head contact, and Perese is dismissed and won’t feature in these final few minutes. Leicester’s try is also chalked off.

04:52pm

TRY! Northampton finally get some more points on the board

The visitors breach Leicester’s defensive line, with Pollock reaching the 22, before off-loading to Hendy, who successfully registers a simple try. Smith adds the extras to restore a bit of pride for Northampton.

04:50pm

TRY! Steward gets in on the act for Leicester

There’s a steal at Northampton’s line-out, which eventually releases Hassell-Collins. The winger spearheads a 40 metre charge forwards and advances beyond the 10-metre line. In the same phase of play, Steward then powers through a couple challenges, and despite Pollock’s best efforts, he gets over the line. The conversion is scored by Bailey and Leicester now have 41 points.

04:47pm

68 min: Leicester 34 Northampton 5

As a result, Clare is given a yellow card. Van Poortvliet is then replaced by Whiteley.

There’s a certain Mario Balotelli ‘why always me?’ quality to Henry Pollock. The Northampton flanker comes on to a chorus of boos and is instantly declared as emergency hooker with Craig Wright in the sin-bin. He overthrows his first lineout and is then told his second wasn’t straight. He immediately starts a fight and is penalised as a result. It is never dull in Pollock’s world.

04:45pm

67 min: Leicester 34 Northampton 5

Northampton are penalised for holding onto the ball for too long, giving Leicester a line-out on the 10-metre line. In the same passage of play, there’s then a TMO for an action of foul play against Clare, who swings an arm into Wright’s head at the ruck.

04:42pm

64 min: Leicester 34 Northampton 5

Radwan defends excellently to collect a loose kick, before bringing the ball about 15-20 metres infield. He’s then surrounded by his forwards and Northampton’s threat is once again neutralised.

04:40pm

60 min: Leicester 34 Northampton 5

The hosts are continuing to dominate line-outs and scrums. Leicester have absolutely perfected the basics of Rugby today. Northampton have made a number of changes over the last few minutes, with McParland, West and Millar-Mills all entering the action. For Leicester, Kata an Van Der Flier are now on.

04:35pm

56 min: Leicester 34 Northampton 5

Northampton are yet to threaten in this second half. Leicester captain Chessum and flanker Liebenberg have both been brilliant today.

04:27pm

52 min: Leicester 34 Northampton 5

Pollock has entered the action and instantly starts a brawl. Northampton are struggling and need a source of inspiration from somewhere.

04:25pm

TRY! Leicester are running riot

Once again, Chessum collects the line-out and the Leicester maul carries the ball over the line, with Blamire bagging his second try of the match. There’s a scuffle after the try with Heyes and Wright both given yellow cards for their involvement in the drama. O’Connor can’t add the conversion, but Leicester are still cruising. Northampton are actually down to 13 men following Kemeny’s yellow earlier in the game.

04:19pm

TRY! Radwan adds Leicester’s fourth try

Van Poortvliet’s ambitious cross-field kick is kept in by Bailey. The ball is then transitioned into a central position. Van Poortvliet then dinks a perfectly-weighted kick over the Northampton defence for Radwan, who races through and bursts between the posts to find the try and the earn Leicester a bonus point. O’Connor adds the conversion and Leicester are flying.

04:17pm

PENALTY! O’Connor adds the three for the Leicester

O’Connor steps up and smashes the penalty between the posts, extending Leicester’s lead to 17 points.

04:14pm

44 min: Leicester 19 Northampton 5

Northampton’s Iyogun is penalised for holding onto the ball for too long, thanks to excellent defensive work from N Smith. Leicester have a penalty and will kick for 3.

04:10pm

41 min: Leicester 19 Northampton 5

We are back under way for the second half.

04:01pm

Leicester on top so far

That last passage of play summed up the first half. Fin Smith and Alex Mitchell did brilliantly to break into the Leicester 22 but just as Saints were looking to pull the trigger, a massive Tigers counter-ruck led by Nicky Smith secured a huge turnover. Leicester are well worth their 19-5 lead, dominating Saints at the set piece, breakdown and contact area. As we saw through Tommy Freeman’s marvellous try, Saints are capable of striking quickly but Tigers right now have them in a chokehold.

03:57pm

HT: Leicester 19 Northampton 5

Leicester will be overjoyed with that first half display. When down to 14 men, Northampton initially did quite well to stifle Leicester’s attack and keep the scoreline at 5-0 following Martin’s early try. Everyone expected Northampton to kick on when they levelled through Freeman, but tries from Hassell-Collins and Blamire, coupled with O’Connor’s conversions have given Leicester a healthy lead at half-time.

Leicester will be delighted with their first half performance - David Rogers/Getty Images Europe

03:54pm

40 min: Leicester 19 Northampton 5

Smith and Mitchell breach the Leicester 22. They trade a couple passes, but neither player quite has the pace or power to get close to the line, allowing the hosts to get back.

03:49pm

36 min: Leicester 19 Northampton 5

Chessum does tremendously to rise highest and intercept Northampton’s line-out. Leicester’s determined defensive work has really frustrated the away side.

03:47pm

TRY! Leicester extend their lead with a third try

Leicester knock-on gives Northampton a scrum. Heyes celebrates as Northampton’s scrum collapses, gifting Leicester a line-out. It is almost cheered like a try. Seconds later, Liebenberg collects the ball from the line-out and Leicester work the ball to the line. The hosts then win a couple of collision and just metres away from the line, Van Poortvliet uses the ball brilliantly, feeding Blamire, who scores an easy try. O’Connor scores the conversion to secure the seven points.

03:42pm

27 min: Leicester 12 Northampton 5

Martin has been brilliantly in these opening 27 minutes, but he has to leave the field due to a wound. Henderson is on as his replacement. Radwan then defends excellently and stops Northampton from releasing the ball to win the penalty.

03:40pm

TRY! Hassell-Collins restores Leicester’s lead

Wand wrestles his way into the 22 and Northampton concede a penalty. With the visitors wobbling, Martin rides a couple challenges and approaches the 10-metre line before off-loading. The ball is then smoothly worked over to Steward, who hurls a phenomenal pass out to Hassell-Collins. The winger breezes past Furbank to get the try. O’Connor completes the conversion and Leicester are in front by seven points now.

03:35pm

24 min: Leicester 5 Northampton 5

Northampton did incredibly well to negotiate the tricky spell during Chick’s dismissal. Just minutes after being restored to 15 men again, they pounced.

03:34pm

TRY! Freeman finishes off a scintillating move

Hutchinson takes out three Leicester players with a disguised pass, releasing Hendy, who then passes to Furbank. The full-back carries it over the 10-metre line, before feeding Freeman. The winger gets over the line for a simple try. The Northampton backs combined to devastating effect there and Leicester were chasing shadows. Smith can’t score the conversion so we remain level.

03:31pm

18 min: Leicester 5 Northampton 0

Furbank kicks into touch and Blamire takes the line-out. Leicester work the ball across the pitch towards Hassell-Collins attempts a lob and sprints down the wing. He’s tracked the whole way by Freeman, who guides Hassell-Collins off the ball. That was excellent defensive work from the winger.

Strangely, I think Saints will be pretty happy to be 5-0 down at this stage. Leicester came out in typical blood and thunder style, but Northampton weathered that initial storm and managed to avoid conceding any more points after Callum Chick was sin-binned. Still, Leicester are dominating the gainline and the lineout giving Northampton very little foothold in the game

03:27pm

16 min: Leicester 5 Northampton 0

Van Poortvliet collects the ball from the ruck then it slips out of hs hands as he attempts a pass. There is another break in play as Moro catches Reffell in the eye, with the flanker needing treatment.

03:23pm

12 min: Leicester 5 Northampton 0

It’s all Leicester at the moment. Bailey’s movement and flatness of passing is causing Northampton some serious problems. The visitors still have over five minutes left on Chick’s yellow card.

03:20pm

TRY! Martin gives Leicester the early lead

Leicester continue to ramp up the pressure and Radwan carries brilliantly. He nearly makes the line, but the ball is recycled well by Chessum, who then feeds Martin, who seals his first try in over two years. The conversion is missed and Northampton’s Chick is penalised with a yellow card for multiple offsides.

03:17pm

7 min: Leicester 0 Northampton 0

Leicester take a line out and they’re eight metres short of the line. The ball is worked to Bailey and is lost in the collision. But an earlier Leicester penalty means that attack stays alive. Saints have conceded four penalties and received a warning from the referee.

03:15pm

4 min: Leicester 0 Northampton 0

Leicester attack with real purpose and win another penalty. They use the tap and go at the five metre line. Van Poortvliet dashes for the line, but Northampton bodies in the way to hold the try up. Incredible defending, and somehow, the visitors survive that early spell of pressure.

03:11pm

3 min: Leicester 0 Northampton 0

Leicester defend well and win the early penalty. Both sets of players clash after R Smith and N Smith collide, kicking off a melee.

An early flashpoint kick-started a scrap between both sets of players - David Rogers/Getty Images Europe

03:09pm

2 min: Leicester 0 Northampton 0

Smith chips a ball through to Furbank, who latches onto it. He’s tackled by Steward and stays down. The medical team on the pitch to treat him. It doesn’t look good for the Northampton captain. The visitors had Leicester pinned in the corner, but Van Poortvliet kicks to clear. Furbank is back to his feet. He’s moving gingerly but looks okay to continue.

Northampton lock Tom Lockett pulled up in the warm-up and has been replaced by Chunya Munga in the Saints starting XV. Already it is proving to be a tasty game. George Furbank was absolutely crushed by Steward but has managed to play on. Then Robbie Smith and Nicky Smith had a coming-together which sparked a whole 30-man pile on (albeit with no punches thrown). Referee Karl Dickson has already warned both teams that players from both sides with leave the field if any further sparks fly.

03:06pm

Kick-off

We are underway at Welford Road. Can Leicester close the gap on Northampton or will the visitors extend their lead at the summit?

This is my favourite moment of the domestic season with the Crumbie Stand rocking to Deep Purple’s Smoke on the Water ahead of the biggest derby in English rugby. On days like today, skill goes out the window. Today will be settled by good old-fashioned intangibles of grit, heart and fight.

03:00pm

A friendly welcome for Saints fans

Prem Rugby have ensured there is an away end of sorts for the East Midlands derby with a block of around Northampton supporters in the Mattioli Woods stand, although there will be Saints fans elsewhere within the ground. And what the block are they situated in? FU. Coincidence surely?

02:54pm

The excitement is building

02:53pm

History of the East Midlands Derby

In a rivalry that has survived for well over a century, the clubs have played each other 260 times, with the Tigers recording 146 wins compared to Saints’ 95.

Since the Prem’s formation in 1987, Leicester has been the competition’s most decorated side, picking up 11 titles. Recent history favours Northampton, who won the title in 2024, and are currently top of the table this year.

Leicester Tigers against Northampton Saints is one of Rugby Union’s most fierce and enthralling rivalries - David Rogers/Getty Images Europe

02:48pm

The top five in the Prem

1. Northampton- 62 points
2. Bath- 58 points
3. Leicester- 52 points
4. Exeter- 49 points
5. Bristol- 48 points

All teams have played 14 games.

02:46pm

Billy Searle’s out for the season

A bit of breaking news from Mattioli Woods Welford Road - it sounds like Billy Searle is out for the season. The fly half, who has been the undisputed signing of the season, hurt his hamstring in training last week and is now likely to miss the rest of the run-in. It is a huge blow for Tigers who can at least turn to experienced Australia playmaker James O’Connor. Searle was also in with a shot of touring with England this summer

02:45pm

This round of Prem fixtures

Friday:

Gloucester 21 Sale 15

Today:

Bristol vs Saracens (17:30)

Sunday:

Newcastle Red Bulls vs Harlequins (15:05)

Exeter Chiefs vs Bath (15:30)

02:36pm

And the starting XVs look like this...

Leicester Tigers

Steward; Radwan, Wand, Bailey, Hassell-Collins; O’Connor, Van Poortvliet; Smith, Blamire, Heyes, Chessum (c), Martin, Liebenberg, Reffell, Moro.

Replacements: Clare, Van der Flier, Hurd, Henderson, Williams, Whiteley, Kata, Perese.

Northampton Saints

Furbank (c); Freeman, Hutchinson, Dingwall, Hendy; F Smith, Mitchell; Iyogun, R Smith, Green; Lockett, Van Der Mescht, Kemeny, Graham, Chick.

Replacements: Wright, West, Millar Mills, Prowse, Munga, Pollock, McParland, Litchfield.

02:30pm

Big-match preview

Hello and welcome to our live blog for this Gallagher Prem meeting and East Midlands Derby between Leicester Tigers and Northampton Saints.

With just four games of the regular campaign remaining before the play-offs, the Prem is shaping up for a dramatic finale as we approach the deciding weeks of a fascinating season. Northampton are leading the pack, but are just four points ahead of second-place Bath, who they beat 41-38 in an enthralling encounter at Franklin’s Gardens last time out. Meanwhile, Leicester, who sit third, narrowly lost 19-15 to Saracens in their previous outing, falling 10 points behind the league leaders.

Two weeks ago, Northampton were drawing 38-all with Bath, before Enoch Opuku-Gyamfi’s high tackle on Henry Pollock gifted Fin Smith a penalty, which the Englishman slotted between the posts in the 83rd minute, sealing an extra three points and the win.

Phil Dowson, Northampton’s director of rugby, was pleased with the result, but was unhappy with its chaotic nature. “We are top of the table, having lost once this season, so let’s not get too carried away with this game of rugby. But, fundamentally, this game of rugby was not good enough and it could have been a second loss. Delighted with the win but very disappointed by the performance. Lee Radford [defence coach] is particularly annoyed. Rugby is supposed to be fun – an underrated word – but we cannot rely on the Harlem Globetrotters stuff to get us out of trouble.”

Leicester’s disappointing defeat against a Noah Caluori-inspired Saracens was a blow to their play-off ambitions, with Geoff Parling’s men sitting just four points ahead of fifth-place Bristol Bears. Leicester have already scooped the Prem Rugby Cup thanks to a dominant 66-14 victory over Exeter Chiefs back in March, and will want to cement their place in the top four to ensure they qualify for the play-offs. More domestic success could be on the horizon for Leicester, who will be aiming to spoil Northampton’s party.

Kick-off from Mattioli Wood Welford Road is at 15.05pm.

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