World Cup winner puts Tigers on top

By ROB WILDMAN

Leicester …………………….. 26pts

Tries: van Wyk 56, Liebenberg 72

Conversions: Pollard 56, 72

Penalties: Pollard 2, 23, 25, 47

Northampton………………..17pts

Tries: Furbank 59, Matavesi 80

Conversions: Furbank 59, 80

Penalties: Smith 19

Leicester ignited their campaign through a huge collective effort inspired by Springbok World Cup winner Handre Pollard.

After four Premiership defeats on the bounce, Tigers needed this victory over their arch-rivals before a passionate full house.

Pollard contributed 16 points to reward Tigers' greater pressure and his huge kicks out of hand was another big factor in deciding this fierce clash.

The most ferocious spell came 10 minutes into the second half when a try from substitute prop Francois Van Wyk had given Tigers a 19-3 lead.

Despite losing two substitute front-rowers Sam Matavesi and Ethan Waller to the sin bin, Northampton regathered through a George Furbank try and then claimed a second try for centre Tommy Freeman.

However, referee Karl Dickson ruled that substitute flanker Henry Pollock had knocked on before Freeman grabbed the loose ball to score.

Saints boss Phil Dowson said the decision was “marginal” but felt a bigger call by referee Dickson had come in the lead up to van Wyk's try.

Dowson claimed Leicester captain Hanro Liebenberg should have been penalised for being offside in the ruck before Matavesi was penalised for blocking release.

Overall though, Dowson said Saints had been let down by their ill discipline which saw them concede 23 penalties or free kicks.

Liebenberg was influenential throughout went on to score Tigers' second try to put them clear at 26-10.

Even then Northampton saw another score from lock Alex Coles ruled out by the officials before Matavesi scored a consolation.

Leicester had laid the foundations for success in a furious start which only brought Pollard's second-minute penalty.

That came following hooker Curtis Langdon being caught off side after Furbank had knocked on.

A testing afternoon for the officials began when they chalked off a Tigers try in the eighth minute from hooker Charlie Clare because of an obstruction offence by Solomone Kata.

Though Fin Smith landed a penalty from near halfway in the 19th minute, Leicester began to dominate aided by an advantage in the scrum, Northampton being penalised three times in a row.

Pollard's kicking rewarded this momentum by him adding two penalties in close succession for a 9-3 lead after 25 minutes.

It was more of the same initially after half-time as Leicester tightened their grip.

Pollard added a fourth penalty to put Tigers 12-3 up to trigger the most intense moments.

There was an inevitability about a Leicester try as the penalty decisions continued to rack up against Saints including the sight of captain Lewis Ludlam being marched back for dissent.

Matavesi was first to be sinbinned for his ruck offence to be followed moments later when substitute Ethan Waller was also given 10 minutes for more back chat.

The pressure ended in van Wyk forcing his way over for a try converted by Pollard.

Despite being down to 13, Northampton put together some excellent play to put Furbank over for a try. Smith converted.

Two minutes later, Northampton were back on the attack and thought Freeman had scored only for referee Dickson to rule the score out for a knock on.

Leicester regrouped themselves and extended the lead to 26-10 when Liebenberg's try in the 73rd minute was converted by Pollard.

To the credit of Northampton they did not cave in and Matavesi finished off another cutting attack after lock Alex Coles had also had a try disallowed by another video review.

It was hectic stuff in the second 40 minutes and typical of this East Midlands derby.