Leicester score six tries to defeat Northampton

Leicester Tigers achieved a remarkable victory over the Northampton Saints, clinching a record home league win during the East Midlands derby, which was played at a sold-out Mattioli Woods Welford Road. Leicester scored six tries in total, with hooker Jamie Blamire crossing the line twice. This decisive win handed Northampton, who were leading the league, their first league defeat of the season in 2026.

Leicester's tries came from George Martin, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Adam Radwan, and Freddie Steward, alongside Blamire's brace. The victory brought Leicester within just a point of second-placed Bath as the battle for a top-two finish intensified. Tommy Freeman contributed two tries for Northampton, making him the club’s record try scorer in the Prem with 52 tries, including a touchdown from George Hendy.

The match commenced with Northampton encountering a setback when Tom Lockett was injured in the warm-up, which affected their performance. Martin scored his first try in two years on his return, showcasing Leicester's determination as they quickly took control of the game. Referee Matthew Carley cautioned Northampton for repeated infractions, resulting in Callum Chick being sin-binned early in the match.

Despite playing with 14 men, Northampton managed to defend robustly and leveled the score at 5-5 in the 21st minute when Rory Hutchinson set up Freeman, who scored for the Saints. Leicester swiftly responded; Hassell-Collins regained the lead for Leicester by scoring in the corner. With their pack demonstrating dominance, Leicester scored a third try through Blamire after a close-range line-out.

In the second half, Leicester increased their lead when Jack van Poortvliet kicked a well-placed kick for Radwan, who scored and secured a bonus point. Following another line-out, Blamire scored his second try, with tensions flaring on the field resulting in yellow cards for Josh Kemeny and other players as frustrations boiled over.

Steward’s try followed a brilliant run by Hassell-Collins, bringing Leicester’s tally to 39 points. Northampton found a consolation score when Hendy crossed the line, before Freeman capped off the match with his record-breaking try just before the final whistle. The only downside for Leicester was the dismissal of replacement Izaia Perese due to a head clash in the match's closing moments.

After the game, Saints director of rugby Phil Dowson noted the difficulty of the match, stating that adjustments could not be made after halftime, hindering their chance to regain control of the game. He acknowledged the need for improvement to avoid penalties and improve ball possession for future matches.