Leicester Tigers 41-17 Northampton Saints result – Hosts score six tries to seal record-breaking points tally against Gallagher PREM rivals

Leicester Tigers stunned East Midlands rivals Northampton Saints with a record-breaking 41-17 victory in their Gallagher PREM derby fixture.

Saints came into the game sitting top of the table and full of confidence after beating play-off rivals Bath two weeks earlier.

However, they met a Leicester side encouraged by a sold-out Welford Road resulting in a raucous atmosphere.

George Martin put Leicester ahead with seven minutes gone as the hosts dominated the early stages.

Tommy Freeman replied for the Saints as the leaders looked to have withstood the storm.

However, Ollie Hassell-Collins raced over a second Tigers try and Jamie Blamire a third before the break.

Leicester continued their ruthless nature in the second half as Adam Radwan was followed over the whitewash by Blamire to seal a fourth-try bonus point with just 49 minutes gone.

Freddie Steward secured a record-breaking 41 points in one match against rivals Northampton.

The Saints rallied late on after Izaia Perese was shown red for a head-on-head contact tackle.

Despite George Hendy and Freeman scoring tries Northampton left Leicester pointless.

A record-breaking win for Leicester against their East Midlands rivals following a high-tempered encounter

It’s a lovely attacking try for Northampton with their two-man advantage. Pollock starts the move from a scrum before the ball goes out to Clare and then Freeman to ground.

The conversion is missed.

Leicester have run riot against the league leaders this afternoon. Saints get caught playing the ball out of their 22 and Perese rips the ball from his opponent in a high tackle which includes head contact with both players upright.

Wand scores the try out wide. But it’s called back and Perese receives  20-minute red.

Northampton immediately pull a try back as Pollock is played against the last defender before pulling the ball back for Hendy to score.

The conversion is scored.

Leicester steal the ball again at the line-out, allowing Hassell-Collins to break deep into the Saints’ half. The ball is recycled to Steward who barrels over. The conversion is also good.

It’s a record points total for Leicester against their East Midlands rivals.

The Tigers are inside the 22 and Clare comes around the side of the ball with a swinging arm towards opponent Wright. The referee judges it to be head contact but not malicious

The Saints replacement deflects a kick out the back of a scrum which slams the ball into the try-zone where Van Poortvliet grounds it.

That sums up the Saints’ day as the visitors are just struggling to find a way through

Tigers bring on Clare for Blamire.

Leicester saw their line-out five metres out taken away from them for taking too long. It was a big opportunity wasted for a sixth try.

Meanwhile, Chick returns to the field so both teams are now down to 14 men.

Saints change both props as West comes on for Iyogun; Millar-Mills comes on for Green.

For Leicester - Smith is replaced by Van der Flier; Reffell replaced by Hurd 

The action is thick and fast and there have been a raft of changes in this second half.

Here they all are:

Leicester -  Kata on for O'Connor.

Northampton - Smith off for Wright;  Van der Mescht off for Prowse; Pollock on for Graham; Mitchell off for McParland

Pollock is on for Graham and seconds after entering play he pushes his opponent and ‘shouts expletives’ at his opponent.

Following the fifth Leicester try there is pushing and grappling between Heyes and Wright. The pushing almost takes them into the crowd.

When play re-starts O’Connor kicks his conversion against the post.

A Tigers line-out is then driven towards the try-line where Blamire steps out to score.

The Tigers smell blood and come forward again as Bailey sends Wand through. Kemeny denies him with an illegal tackle and is sent to the sin-bin.

It’s an unbelievable try as the Tigers tear apart the league leaders. Radwans kicks out wide and Bailey somehow keeps it in.

The ball is played back inside before Van Poortvliet sends a beautiful dinked kick for Radwan to the fourth try bonus point score.

O’Connor adds the extras.

Leicester prop Nicky Smith turns the ball over from Saints and then wins a penalty.

O’Connor takes the chance and stretches his side’s advantage to 17 points.

Let’s hope the second half is as good as the first. It was a cracker and the Saints have work to do to continue their winning run.

The Gallagher PREM leaders had seven line breaks in that first half but have scored just one try.

They have conceded six turnovers in the process and will need to be more clinical in the second half.