Northampton Saints go to top with 36-13 win over Leicester Tigers

Northampton Saints 36-13 Leicester Tigers, Franklin's Gardens
Scorecard

Northampton Saints have reached the pole position in the ongoing Gallagher Premiership as they sealed a 36-13 bonus point victory over Leicester Tigers at Franklin's Gardens.

The visitors got off the mark in the 14th minute when George Ford kicked a penalty goal but Leicester responded back with an 18th minute try from Matty Proctor and James Grayson kicked the conversion.

Leicester seized back the lead in the 22nd minute when Guy Thompson crossed the whitewash but his efforts were cancelled by Proctor's second in the 28th minute with the first 30 minutes ending with a 17-10 lead for Northampton.

Just as the half-time was approaching, Northampton further stretched their lead to 14 points with Api Ratuniyarawa going over the line and Grayson improving it.

Northampton suffered a setback in the 51st minute when Alex Moon was sin-binned and Ford immediately responded with a penalty goal bringing down the trail to 11 points.

Nevertheless, the visitors failed to capitalise on the numerical advantage and instead it was Northampton who scored two more tries through Tom Collins and Fraser Dingwall to complete a 23 point victory.

Northampton will face Sale Sharks in the sixth round of the tournament at AJ Bell Stadium on 21st December while Leicester Tigers will lock horns with Exeter Chiefs at Welford Road.