Sports · Other Sports · 8 hrs ago
Leicester overwhelm Northampton 28-7 in a fiery derby
Leicester Tigers beat Northampton Saints 28-7 in a fierce local derby at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
The match was played in torrential rain, and Northampton led 7-3 at half-time after James Pater scored a try.
A scuffle near the interval preceded a dramatic change, as Leicester took control after the break.
Jamie Blamire, Cam Henderson, Finn Carnduff and Freddie Steward scored tries for Leicester.
The win avenged Leicester’s playoff semi-final defeat last season and extended Northampton’s wait for a league win at Leicester to four years.
Northampton coach Phil Dowson said his side struggled with the kicking game and set piece in the second half.
Leicester’s next steps are not stated.
Leicester Tigers beat Northampton Saints 28-7 in torrential conditions at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
The Tigers scored four second-half tries after a major scuffle near half-time.
The win avenged Leicester’s defeat by Northampton in last season’s Premiership playoff semi-finals.
Northampton’s wait for a league win at Leicester stretched to four years.
Leicester head coach Geoff Parling praised his players’ physical effort and their response at the set piece.
- Who
- Leicester Tigers beat Northampton Saints.
- What
- Leicester won 28-7 in a derby match.
- When
- 24 October 2026.
- Where
- Mattioli Woods Welford Road in Leicester.
- Why
- Leicester gained revenge for their defeat in last season’s Premiership playoff semi-finals.
Leicester Tigers
Northampton Saints
Second-half performance
Leicester Tigers
Leicester’s head coach said his players took hold of the game and praised their physical effort and problem-solving at the set piece.
Northampton Saints
Northampton’s coach said his team failed to control the kicking game, conceded too many penalties and lacked accuracy and aggression.
Scuffle’s impact
Leicester Tigers
The BBC described the scuffle near half-time as inspiring Leicester’s second-half dominance.
Northampton Saints
Northampton coach Phil Dowson said the scuffle had no impact and that such push and shove happens in every derby.
James Pater scored an early try for Northampton and Freddie Steward kicked a long-range penalty for Leicester.
A major scuffle broke out between players.
Jamie Blamire scored Leicester’s first try from a rolling maul.
Cam Henderson, Finn Carnduff and Freddie Steward scored further tries for Leicester.
- Final score
- Leicester 28-7 Northampton
- Leicester tries
- Jamie Blamire, Cam Henderson, Finn Carnduff and Freddie Steward
- Northampton try
- James Pater
- Venue
- Mattioli Woods Welford Road, Leicester
- Referee
- Craig Maxwell-Keys
3 sources
What people are saying
The crowd was brilliant. The crowd is outstanding. This stadium is iconic. It’s rustic, I know it is. I’ve said it before. It’s old. But I wouldn’t change it for the world.
I thought the players really took hold of [the game] in the second half. Some of the guys in the pack, the way we worked physically for each other – I'm really pleased.
These games are going to be hostile. In the current game, you can’t throw anything. It’s just push and shove and talk crap. That happens every derby. So I don’t think that had any impact. It’s not as if anyone got filled in. Well, you just can’t any more.
A very bitter pill with that second half performance in particular.