Nadolo double helps Tigers make strong statement
PREMIERSHIP WRAP: Nemani Nadolo scored two tries as tournament leaders Leicester did the double over East Midlands rivals Northampton by dispatching them 35-20 at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
Nadolo repeated his feat from the Tigers’ 55-26 victory in the reverse fixture, while flyhalf Freddie Burns orchestrated the hosts superbly from flyhalf and ended with a personal haul of 15 points.
It sent out another marker for Leicester’s fellow challengers at the top, while at the same time severely denting Saints’ play-off hopes, with the visitors’ discipline deserting them too often.
* Meanwhile Australia international scrum-half Nick Phipps scored two tries as London Irish crushed Bristol 49-32.
It brought to an abrupt end Bristol’s run of four bonus-point victories and leaves the West Country side with a mountain to climb if they are to reach the end-of-season play-offs.
Friday scores and scorers are below …
Bristol 32-49 London Irish
Scorers
For Bristol
Tries: Whiteley, Naulago, Strang, Challenger, Kerr
Cons: Whiteley, Eden
Pen: Whiteley
For London Irish
Tries: Phipps 2, Janse van Rensburg, Loader, Jackson, Pearson
Cons: Jackson 5
Pens: Jackson 3
The teams:
Bristol: 15 Henry Purdy, 14 Siva Naulago, 13 Semi Radradra, 12 Piers O’Conor, 11 Alapati Leiua, 10 Ioan Lloyd, 9 Tom Whiteley, 8 Fitz Harding, 7 Sam Jeffries, 6 Steven Luatua (captain), 5 Joe Joyce, 4 Chris Vui, 3 Max Lahiff, 2 Harry Thacker, 1 Yann Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Jake Kerr, 17 Jake Woolmore, 18 Ashley Challenger, 19 John Hawkins, 20 Jake Heenan, 21 Theo Strang, 22 Tiff Eden, 23 Antoine Frisch.
London Irish: 15 Henry Arundell, 14 James Stokes, 13 Benhard van Rensburg, 12 Terrence Hepetema, 11 Ben Loader, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Nick Phipps (captain), 8 Sean O’Brien, 7 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 6 Olly Cracknell, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Ollie Hoskins, 2 Agustin Creevy, 1 Will Goodrick-Clarke.
Replacements: 16 Mike Willemse, 17 Facundo Gigena, 18 Marcel van der Merwe, 19 George Nott, 20 Tom Pearson, 21 Hugh O’Sullivan, 22 Curtis Rona, 23 Kyle Rowe.
Referee: Christophe Ridley
Assistant referees: Joe James, Wayne Falla
TMO: Ian Tempest
Leicester Tigers 35-20 Northampton Saints
The scorers
For Leicester Tigers
Tries: Nadolo 2, Montoya, Hegarty
Cons: Burns 3
Pens: Burns 3
For Northampton Saints
Tries: Mitchell, Skosan, Wilkins
Con: Furbank
Pen: Furbank
The teams:
Leicester: 15 Bryce Hegarty, 14 Harry Potter, 13 Guy Porter, 12 Dan Kelly, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Freddie Burns, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Tommy Reffell, 6 Hanro Liebenberg (captain), 5 Calum Green, 4 Harry Wells, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Julián Montoya, 1 James Whitcombe.
Replacements: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Nephi Leatigaga, 19 Eli Snyman, 20 George Martin, 21 Jack van Poortvliet, 22 Matt Scott, 23 Chris Ashton.
Northampton: 15 Ahsee Tuala, 14 Ollie Sleightholme, 13 Fraser Dingwall (captain), 12 Rory Hutchinson, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 George Furbank, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Teimana Harrison, 6 Tom Wood, 5 Api Ratuniyarawa, 4 David Ribbans, 3 Paul Hill, 2 Sam Matavesi, 1 Alex Waller.
Replacements: 16 Mike Haywood, 17 Emmanuel Iyogun, 18 Conor Carey, 19 Alex Coles, 20 Karl Wilkins, 21 Tom James, 22 James Grayson, 23 Matt Proctor.
Referee: Matthew Carley
Assistant referees: Jack Makepeace, Jamie Leahy
TMO: Tom Foley
Sources: PA & RugbyPass
