Northampton overcome Leicester in derby classic to reach Prem final

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, George Furbank won the Prem title with Northampton in 2024 Tries: Litchfield 3, Freeman, Furbank 2, McParland Cons: Smith 5 Tries: Liebenberg, Steward, Hassell-Collins 2, Bailey Cons: Searle 3 Captain George Furbank scored two tries in his final home game for Northampton Saints as they overcame Leicester Tigers in an East Midlands derby classic to reach the Prem final. Furbank, who will join Harlequins next season, grabbed two second-half tries to ensure he has a shot at finishing his Northampton career with a second title. In an absorbing semi-final at the cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens, two early tries Tom Litchfield came either side of quickfire scores from Hanro Liebenberg and Freddie Steward, which had Tigers momentarily ahead. Saints' Tommy Freeman and Leicester's Ollie Hassell-Collins then traded eye-catching tries before Litchfield completed his hat-trick to put Northampton 26-19 up at the break. Furbank went over early in the second half, then completed the high-scoring contest after Orlando Bailey's try and Hassell-Collins' second for Leicester sandwiched Archie McParland's fine effort for Saints. Northampton advance to Twickenham, where they lifted the title in 2024, where they will meet the winners of Saturday's second semi-final between defending champions Bath and Exeter Chiefs. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Tom Litchfield won Northampton's players' player of the season award Northampton topped the table after 18 regular season games to set up the highly anticipated showdown with their regional neighbours, who finished fourth in the table in Geoff Parling's first season as a head coach. A bustling run from Henry Pollock down the right laid the foundations for what was the fastest try to be scored in a Prem play-off game, as Litchfield scythed through Tigers' resistance after just 87 seconds. Leicester's response was swift - with Liebenberg powering over in what proved to be his final appearance for Leicester, before fit-again England international Steward stretched over to score with the right hand which he had thumb surgery on just weeks ago. A mix-up between Steward and Billy Searle, as they attempted to field a searching grubber kick from Rory Hutchinson, allowed Litchfield to pounce for his second try. A pinpoint Fin Smith kick to find Freeman on the right edge, and the quick thinking from the winger to then side-foot the ball on to himself, made for a spectacular third try for the hosts. Pollock had another Saints try overruled before Tigers hit back in fine style, with Searle finding Hassell-Collins with a clever kick out wide in the 36th minute and the winger finishing well. And yet the first-half scoring spree did not end there, with Litchfield muscling over with a last gasp effort to complete his treble. The game continued at a frenetic pace after the interval, with Furbank's first try followed up by a score from Bailey that kept Tigers in touch as Northampton threatened to pull away. While the television match official chalked off an Elliot Millar Mills try on the hour mark, Saints eventually added to their advantage through McParland – who finished a flowing move that shifted through the hands of Tom Pearson, Fraser Dingwall and Furbank. Hassell-Collins' second try of the night gave Leicester hope of a late fightback, but Furbank put the result beyond doubt when he dived over for his own brace of tries for a Saints side that finished with 14 men after Craig Wright was sin-binned in the 78th minute. 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.

Northampton overcome Leicester in derby classic to reach Prem final

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Northampton overcome Leicester in derby classic to reach Prem final

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