Northampton Saints 45-31 Leicester Tigers - Gallagher PREM play-off result as Tom Litchfield hat-trick steers hosts into final at Twickenham

Tom Litchfield scored a first-half hat-trick and George Furbank a brace in his last home game at Franklin’s Gardens as Northampton beat neighbors Leicester in a thrilling PREM Rugby semi-final to book their place in next weekend's Twickenham showdown.

The action was non-stop from the opening whistle with Litchfield’s first try coming before two minutes were on the clock. But Hanro Liebenberg and Freddie Steward crossed soon after to put the Tigers in front.

That would be the only time they would lead though, as Litchfield touched down twice more and Tommy Freeman once before the interval with just Ollie Hassell-Collins’ coming at the other end.

Departing skipper Furbank scored four minutes into the second half and, after Orlando Bailey’s five-pointer for the Tigers, Archie McParland completed a brilliant team try for the Saints to give them a two-try buffer.

Hassell-Collins ran onto a Searle kick to keep the match competitive until five minutes from time when Furbank dived home to put the match beyond doubt.

The Saints will now meet the winners of the second semi-final between Bath and Exeter, which you can watch live on TNT Sports and on HBO Now, tomorrow from 14.30 UK time.

A thrilling performance forged by the supreme efforts of a number of heroes sees the Saints win the semi-final.

The rest of the forwards were keen to get involved. It won't make a difference.

They have the ball in the ruck but the ball is kicked away from the scrum half's grasp forcing a knock on.

Wright goes off for the Saints after stealing the ball int he ruck illegally.

Smith can't convert from the sideline.

What a way to leave Franklin's Gardens! In his last match at home for the Saints he finished off a fine move. Smith makes a long kick out to Freeman and he passed inside to his full back who ran in to score in the corner.

Martin and Chessum make big tackles and the former hurts himself so has to go off for Henderson for the last few minutes.

Searle misses wildly with the kick so they need a converted try and a penalty to get in front.

They will not give up. A brilliant low kick from Searle and though the ball bounces freakishly high near the line Hassell-Collins leaps up to collect it and dive over the line.

Smith kicks through the posts.

A brilliant series of offloads from Northampton, Pearson into Dingwall then back inside to Furbank and finally McParland to run under the posts.

The numerous camera angles show it was not a heinous act.

He got hit by Martin with a shoulder into the chin. They will review whether it is a sin bin offence.

Hendy got to the cusp of the line and then Millar-Mills spun around in the tackle before touching down under the posts. Hendy pushed the ball forward on the floor in the ruck.

They face a five metre line out.

He gets a deserved huge ovation. The fifth man to score a hat-trick in a semi-final. He is replaced by Dingwall.

Hutchison put a kick and run to the corner and Steward gathered and took a big hit from Hutchison before staying just in field.

Sub Fischetti grabs the ball from van Poortvliet and then Smith kicked the ball into Leicester's half. Borderline illegal but it worked for the Saints on this occasion.