Saracens' gamble pays off against Pollard's Tigers
MATCH REPORT: Saracens were rewarded for putting their English Premiership play-off bid ahead of the club’s European ambitions as they beat Leicester 29-22 at Welford Road on Sunday.
England stars Maro Itoje and Tom Willis featured in league action for Saracens for a second successive weekend after the Six Nations, meaning they must be left out for Saturday’s European Champions Cup visit to Toulon.
But Saracens’ gamble paid off with a bonus-point victory that was founded on their quick start and a strong second half.
Ben Earl, Theo Dan, Nick Isiekwe, and Alex Goode all came off the bench to deliver influential contributions.
It was Dan’s opportunistic 63rd-minute try, made possible by a Leicester line-out error, that proved the difference as sixth-placed Saracens moved within two points of the top four.
Saracens have only missed out on a top-four finish in the Premiership twice since the 2008-09 season.
And they bounced back from the 12-23 loss to Harlequins last week with a far more spirited performance.
Third-placed Leicester were fresh from their 33-0 romp at Northampton but could not repeat those fireworks in another twist in a tense play-off race.
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Scorers:
For Leicester Tigers:
Tries: Steward, Liebenberg 2
Cons: Pollard 2
DG: Pollard
For Saracens:
Tries: George, Gonzalez, Hall, Dan
Cons: Lozowski 2, Burke
DG: Lozowski
Teams:
Leicester Tigers: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Solomone Kata, 12 Joe Woodward, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Jack van Poortvliet , 8 Ollie Cracknell, 7 Tommie Reffell, 6 Hanro Liebenberg, 5 Harry Wells, 4 Cameron Henderson, 3 Joe Heyes, 2 Julian Montoya, 1 Nicky Smith.
Replacements: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 James Whitcombe, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Come Joussain, 20 Emaka Ilione, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Jamie Shillcock, 23 Izaia Perese
Saracens: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Tobias Elliot, 13 Alex Lozowski, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Angus Hall, 10 Fergus Burke, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Tom Willis, 7 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 6 Theo McFarland, 5 Hugh Tizard, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Fraser Balmain, 2 Jamie George, 1 Eroni Mawi.
Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Rhys Carre, 18 Marco Riccioni, 19 Nick Isiekwe, 20 Andy Anyeama-Christie, 21 Ben Earl, 22 Gareth Simpson, 23 Alex Goode.
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant referees: Jonathan Cook (England), Calum Howard (England)
TMO: Peter Allan (Scotland)
