Northampton beat Leicester to reach PREM final

Northampton Saints 45-31 Leicester Tigers, cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens

Northampton Saints reached a major final for the third season in a row after beating East Midlands rivals Leicester Tigers 45-31 in a thrilling Gallagher PREM play-off at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.

After winning the Premiership title in 2024 and reaching the Investec Champions Cup final in 2025, Phil Dowson's side will once again have the chance to compete for silverware when they head to Twickenham next weekend.

Litchfield Sets The Tone Early

Northampton started quickly and were rewarded inside the opening minutes. Rory Hutchinson and Henry Pollock helped move the ball at pace into Leicester territory before Archie McParland found Litchfield, who raced clear for the opening try.

Leicester responded when Hanro Liebenberg forced his way over after a forward pass had stopped an earlier chance close to the line. Billy Searle missed the conversion, leaving Saints narrowly 7-5 ahead.

The Tigers then moved in front after a scrum penalty gave them field position. Some excellent work by Ollie Chessum allowed Freddie Steward to reach over to score, with Searle converting to make it 7-12.

Saints And Tigers Trade First-Half Blows

Northampton hit back with two quick tries. Litchfield scored his second after Hutchinson’s grubber confused the Leicester defence, allowing the centre to ground the loose ball.

Tommy Freeman then produced a fine finish. Fin Smith spotted space, kicked ahead and the winger controlled the ball with his boot before diving over. Smith converted to stretch the lead.

Saints thought they had another when Pollock dived over, but the try was ruled out because he was offside.

Leicester punished that let-off when a high tackle gave them an entry into the 22. Searle then sent a low crossfield kick to Ollie Hassell-Collins, who gathered and scored. Searle converted to cut the gap, making it 21-19.

Northampton had the final say before half-time. After a turnover from Pollock and a strong attacking spell, Litchfield powered over to complete his hat-trick which gave Saints a seven-point lead at the break.

Furbank Helps Saints Push Clear

The second half maintained a breathless tempo, with an early Northampton score through George Furbank quickly answered by Orlando Bailey to keep Leicester firmly in contention.

Elliot Millar-Mills thought he had crossed for his first try for Saints, only for the television match official to rule the effort out.

Saints soon reasserted control, extending their lead when McParland finished a flowing move involving Tom Pearson, Fraser Dingwall and Furbank to open up daylight on the scoreboard.

Hassell-Collins’ second try of the evening briefly reignited Leicester’s hopes of a comeback, but Furbank’s late score sealed victory for Northampton.

Northampton Saints: Furbank; Freeman, Litchfield, Hutchinson, Hendy; Smith, McParland; Iyogun, Langdon, Millar Mills; Coles, Prowse, Kemeny, Pearson, Pollock.

Replacements: Wright, Fischetti, Green, Van der Mescht, Lockett, Chick, Weimann, Dingwall.

Leicester Tigers: Steward; Radwan, Wand, Bailey, Hassell-Collins; Searle, Van Poortvliet; Smith, Blamire, Heyes; Martin, Chessum, Liebenberg, Reffell, Moro.

Replacements: Clare, Van der Flier, Hurd, Henderson, Cracknell, Whiteley, Kata, Perese.