Leicester Tigers beat Northampton Saints in torrential derby at Welford Road

Leicester Tigers defeated Northampton Saints in a league match at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on 24 October 2026, scoring 25 unanswered second-half points to claim victory in torrential conditions.

The game began in heavy rain and a disjointed first half, during which James Pater crossed for an opportunist try after Billy Searle spilled Fin Smith’s speculative kick and Freddie Steward added a long-range penalty from 50 metres. Both teams struggled to retain possession as the penalty count rose and lineout throws faltered, with Jamie Blamire repeatedly disrupted by Josh Kemeny. On the verge of half-time a large scuffle on the touchline involving several players culminated in Ollie Chessum pushing England team-mate Henry Pollock down the tunnel.

The incident preceded a one-sided second half in which Leicester produced a sustained attacking display, amassing 25 points without reply. Jamie Blamire finished a driving maul to score the first of Leicester’s second-half tries, and Cam Henderson then powered through defenders to touch down in the corner as the Tigers assumed control.

Leicester consolidated their dominance in the forwards and backs combination play supplied further scores; Finn Carnduff finished from close range following a short pass from Joe Heyes, and Freddie Steward completed the scoring after cutting inside Archie McParland to secure what had looked an unlikely try bonus point. Tries: Blamire, Henderson, Carnduff, Steward Cons: Searle Pens: Steward, Searle.

Earlier in the match, with the rain still falling, Northampton had struck first when Pater gathered Searle’s spill from Smith’s kick to score. The contest featured significant physicality and set-piece battles, with Leicester gaining territory through strong carries from Solomone Kata and heavy work from Gabe Hamer-Webb that helped create the opportunity for Henderson’s score.

Leicester named: Steward; Radwan, Wand, Kata, Hamer-Webb; Searle, van Poortvliet; Van der Flier, Blamire, Heyes; Henderson, Chessum (c), Wainwright, Carnduff, Cracknell. Replacements: Asiata, Haffar, Hurd, Thompson, Moro, Whiteley, Bailey, Pearson.

Northampton named: Pater; Freeman, Hutchinson, Dingwall (c), Hendy; Smith, Mitchell; Iyogun, Langdon, Kundiona; Coles, Prowse, Kemeny, Pearson, Pollock. Replacements: Smith, Fischetti, Neculai, van der Mescht, Lockett, Chick, McParland, Sleightholme.

The result leaves Leicester second in the league behind Gloucester and drops Northampton to fourth, while the visitors’ wait for a league win at their near rivals stretches to four years; Leicester also gained revenge for their defeat to Northampton in last season's Prem playoff semi-finals.