Saracens 26-31 Leicester Tigers: Josh Manz in the right place to steal it for the visitors

Saracens ……….26pts

Tries: Lozowski 9, Adegbemile 15, Segun 22, 70

Conversions: Johnson 10, 16, 22

Leicester ……….31pts

Tries: Reffell 12, 31; Theobald-Thomas 48, Allan 58, Manz 78

Conversions: Bailey 13, 77; Whiteley 58

Josh Manz savoured Leicester Tigers‘ dramatic victory against Saracens at StoneX Stadium as the visitors sealed their Prem Cup semi-final place.

The young back row forced his way over for a try near the end of an exhausting and pulsating contest in Pool B.

A sixth win in the competition keeps Leicester’s impressive momentum going, and on this form, it will take something special to stop them lifting the trophy.

Manz, 21, a product of the academy who jumped off the bench in the second half to be the try-scoring hero as Sarries looked set for victory, enthused: “I loved it out there.

Pleased

“It’s always such a hard place to come, so we are super pleased to come away with a bonus point win.

“We stuck in it at the end and kept going – we put real pride in our set piece and we can always rely on our maul to get us over.

“We finish off with Quins at home on Friday and it’s a chance to clinch that home semi, which is important for us.”

Match action

Sarries dominated the opening ten minutes and full-back Alex Lozowski reacted quickest to a Louie Johnson’s low grubber over the Leicester line, and managed to ground the ball before it rolled into touch.

Johnson added the extras, only for Tigers to growl back with their first try two minutes later.

A trademark lineout driving maul worked perfectly with Wales‘ Tommy Ref-fell rising to claim the try and Orlando Bailey converted.

Sarries responded impressively and decisively with a swift break down the left which eventually gave lock Tayo Adegbemile the chance to charge through a gap for a try.

Johnson converted and did so again when Rotimi Segun grabbed the first of his brace – taking a long pass out wide on the left and defying two tacklers to cross.

Johnson nailed his kick from the touchline but then saw Tigers hit back.

Game changed complexion

Once more captain Reffell claimed the try from another driving maul. Sarries had no answer to the weapon.

Hooker Finn Theobald-Thomas finished off the next one as Sarries’ forwards were pushed back again and when replacement scrum-half Ollie Allan dived over for another try, it was one-way traffic.

The game changed complexion when Tigers lost scrum-half Whiteley to the sin bin for taking out Brandon Jackson with a late tackle after the wing had kicked ahead.

Sarries used their extra man to good advantage and spread the ball wide left to Segun, who waited to stroll over for the try.

The home fans sat back, believing their side had finally got control of a match which had pulses racing and blood pressure rising throughout.

Sarries indiscipline punished

But the final few minutes saw the game turn back in favour of the Tigers, who punished Sarries indiscipline.

The hosts lost both prop Tietie Tuimauga and Nick Isiekwe to the sin bin for scrum offences.

Down two men and under real pressure, it was only a matter of when the Tigers would supply the decisive blow.

It came with the next driving maul, and it was executed perfectly once more.

Manz, left, rose to take the pats on the back, and Bailey converted, and the visitors had stolen another victory in their bid for more cup glory.