Saints blow Tigers away to go top
PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Matt Proctor crossed for a double on debut, as Northampton Saints crushed their East Midlands rivals Leicester Tigers to move top of the standings.
Proctor was the beneficiary of a fine Saints performance, inspired by man of the match Taqele Naiyaravoro, while the Tigers remain in trouble at the other end of the table.
Despite losing Dan Biggar, Courtney Lawes and Owen Franks before kick-off, Saints were dominant throughout.
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George Ford had slotted a penalty for the Tigers but Saints struck first when Cobus Reinach put Proctor through a hole.
Guy Thompson muscled over for the Tigers, but the Saints marched on as Proctor went over for his second, fed by the impressive George Furbank after more Naiyaravoro carnage.
Saints had a third before the interval when Api Ratuniyarawa collected Naiyaravoro’s offload to coast clear.
And in the second-half they turned the screw, Tom Collins over for the bonus point score before replacement Fraser Dingwall rounded off a thumping 36-13 win.
The scorers:
For Northampton Saints:
Tries: Proctor 2, Ratuniyarawa, Collins, Dingwall
Cons: Grayson 4
Pen: Grayson
For Leicester Tigers:
Try: Thompson
Con: Ford
Pens: Ford 2
Yellow card: Alex Moon (Northampton Saints, 50)
Teams:
Northampton Saints: 15 George Furbank, 14 Tom Collins, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Rory Hutchinson, 11 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 10 James Grayson, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Teimana Harrison, 7 Lewis Ludlam, 6 Tom Wood, 5 Api Ratuniyarawa, 4 Alex Moon, 3 Ehren Painter, 2 Mikey Haywood, 1 Alex Waller.
Replacements: 16 Michael van Vuuren, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Alex Coles, 20 Jamie Gibson, 21 James Mitchell, 22 Fraser Dingwall, 23 Ahsee Tuala
Leicester Tigers: 15 George Worth, 14 Jonny May, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Jaco Taute, 11 Jonah Holmes, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Sione Kalamafoni, 7 Guy Thompson, 6 Harry Wells, 5 Calum Green, 4 Tomás Lavanini, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Tom Youngs (captain), 1 Ellis Genge.
Replacements: 16 Jake Kerr, 17 Facundo Gigena, 18 Nephi Leatigaga, 19 Sam Lewis, 20 Jordan Coghlan, 21 Ben White, 22 Noel Reid, 23 Andy Forsyth
Referee: Matthew Carley
Assistant referees: Andrew Jackson & Wayne Falla.
TMO: Rowan Kitt.
Source: @premrugby
