Match Centre: Gallagher Premiership: Leicester 19-10 Saracens
Handre Pollard kicked two conversions in Leicester's win
©Steve Haag
Leicester 19-10 Saracens, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
Leicester Tigers managed to edge out Saracens with a 19-10 margin in the 11th round of the Gallagher Premiership at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Saturday.
This is third defeat in four matches for Saracens in the competition as they further slip down to the table while Leicester now have 33 points in the table.
Owen Farrell, who was linked with a move to Racing 92 returned in one of the eight changes for Saracens and they had an early setback with Kapeli Pifeleti leaving the field in the 8th minute replaced by Theo Dan.
Leicester were the first to get the points as Dan Kelly intercepted a pass to touchdown but Handre Pollard missed out on the conversion making it 5-0.
The visitors hit back as Elliot Daly spotted the gap in Leicester's defence and sent a looping pass to Tom Parton, who dived over the line and Farrell followed with a conversion and a penalty goal to increase their lead to 5-10.
Leicester seized the lead just before the break as Matt Rogerson muscled his way over close range in the 33rd minute and Pollard kicked the conversion to perfection as the teams completed the opening half with a 12-10 lead.
Saracens were reduced to 14 players temporarily in the 56th minute when Maro Itoje was sin-binned as he failed to retreat after Jasper Wiese's quick tap and with the numerical advantage on their side, Harry Simmons dived in the corner. Pollard also followed with the conversion as Leicester had a nine point lead heading into the final quarter.
Saracens looked threatening as Alex Lewington looked to score but firm defence from Leicester kept him away from scoring as Leicester went on to complete a nine point victory.
Team line up:
Leicester: Steward; Simmons, Kelly, Kata, Brown; Pollard, Whiteley; Cronin, Montoya (capt), Heyes, Martin, Chessum, Rogerson, Reffell, Wiese.
Reserves: Theobold-Thomas, Van Wyk, Hurd, Wells, Hatherell, Cracknell, Youngs, Shillcock.
Saracens: Parton; Segun, Daly, Tompkins, Cinti; Farrell (capt), Simpson; Crean, Pifeleti, Judge, Itoje, Tizard, McFarland, Gonzalez, Earl.
Reserves: Dan, Mulipola, Hoskins, Isiekwe, Christie, Van Zyl, Manu Vunipola, Lewington.
