First home win for Chieka as Leicester beat Saints
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Michael Cheika oversaw a memorable first home victory as Leicester Tigers boss as they beat rivals and Premiership title holders Northampton Saints.
Freddie Steward put the hosts ahead with a try after just 150 seconds of a fierce first half that saw Saints’ Sam Graham leave the field on a stretcher and both sides have a player sin-binned.
South Africa fly-half Handre Pollard, who traded penalties with Fin Smith to give Tigers a 10-3 lead at the break, was the third player of the day to be shown a yellow card early in the second half.
One of his first touches on his return to the pitch was to convert an Olly Cracknell try.
Ollie Chessum grabbed Tigers' third try moments after Tom Pearson became the second Saints player to be shown a yellow card in an East Midlands derby which produced only a consolation try for the champions from Tommy Freeman after 81 minutes.
More to follow.
Leicester Tigers: Steward; Watson, Kelly, Woodward, Hassell-Collins; Pollard, Van Poortvliet; Smith, Montoya, Heyes; Wells, Chessum; Liebenberg, Reffell, Cracknell.
Replacements: Clare, Cronin, Cole, Joussain, Ilione, Youngs, Shillcock, Wand.
Sin-bin: Reffell (13), Pollard (44).
Northampton Saints: Furbank; Ramm, Litchfield, Hutchinson, Freeman; F Smith, McParland; Iyogun, Langdon, Millar Mills; Mayanavanua, Munga; Kemeny, Scott-Young, Graham.
Replacements: R Smith, West, Davison, Thornbury, Pearson, Pollock, Garside, Sleightholme.
Sin-bin: Langdon (31), Pearson (59)
"It means so much to us as a club"
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) October 12, 2024
Freddie Steward on what this win means for Leicester Tigers!#GallagherPrem | #LEIvNOR pic.twitter.com/WqFJ7d1p53
