Saints kick-start PREM Rugby Cup campaign with dominant derby-day win

The black, green and gold had the perfect blend of youth and experience as they delivered a dominant derby-day display at a sold-out cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens.

Leicester looked to have few answers as they were cut apart at times, with Saints notching six tries in a much-needed bonus-point success.

It means Phil Dowson's men have cut the gap to leaders Tigers, who did claim a try bonus point late on, to just four points in Pool B, with three matches still to play.

The only negatives on the day came on the injury front as Ollie Sleightholme did not return from a head injury assessment and Tom Lockett left the field supporting his right arm with his shirt.

Those two men had played their part in a fine performance from their side as so many Academy products showed their class against a Tigers team that included the vast experience of men such as Hanro Liebenberg and James O'Connor.

Saints were unfazed by the opposition from the off, though, as they landed the first blow of the match inside 10 minutes, piecing together a superb score that started from just inside the Tigers half.

Some trademark handling and uptempo play from the hosts resulted in James Martin releasing Archie McParland for the opening score, with James Pater easily adding the extras.

Saints were playing some fine rugby, delivering some excellent handling in tight areas, and they also had the power game to go with it.

After Tigers forced a knock-on on their own line, Saints won a scrum penalty, allowing them to lay the platform for the razor-sharp McParland to spot a gap to score his second.

Pater converted again and Saints had enjoyed a really strong six-minute spell that put them 14-0 up.

Tigers were really struggling to get anything going, but they were given a helping hand when Saints lost the ball just inside the away half.

O'Connor led the counter-attack and Leicester worked the ball really well to the right for wing George Pearson to grab a try.

O'Connor's conversion was missed as it just shaved the outside of the right post on the way wide, and Saints were to issue a rapid response.

Some lovely running from Pater put Tigers under pressure and full-back Martin made it count as he gathered his own chip ahead to score in the right corner.

Pater converted in fine fashion from the touchline, drawing a loud roar from the terrace, and Saints led 21-5.

The home side had suffered a blow as they had lost Sleightholme to a head injury assessment, which he did not return from, but James Ramm was a more than able replacement.

Centre Billy Pasco made a brilliant tackle to put a stop to a promising Tigers attack that had reached halfway, and Saints were soon on the front foot again.

As Leicester continued to infringe, Saints piled the pressure on before eventually opting to move the ball to the backs, with Ramm finding Amena Caqusau on the left. Caqusau still had so much to do as he was tracked by a host of Tigers defenders, but despite their attempts, the Saints wing somehow managed to score in the corner.

Pater again added the extras with aplomb, landing a beautiful kick from the left touchline to take Saints into a 28-5 lead that they certainly merited.

Tigers looked to have responded when lock Tom Manz dived over from a lineout drive, but his effort was chalked off for obstruction in the maul.

Saints soon set about making the most of the reprieve and they almost scored again before the break as Charlie Ulcoq did brilliantly to pick a pass up from close to the ground and set Martin away, but Ryan Crowley raced across to dislodge the ball as the full-back dived for the line.

Saints did have their fifth try early in the second half as they won another scrum penalty and kicked to the corner, allowing hooker Henry Walker to latch on to a dominant drive and dive over the line.

Pater missed the conversion as the rain lashed down, and Leicester quickly sent for four replacements, including three in the front row, as they looked for a response that they so desperately needed.

Tigers just kept shipping penalties though as they looked so disjointed and lacking in ideas, while Saints were the complete opposite.

And the black, green and gold soon inflicted more misery on their local rivals as Pater played a lovely one-two with Ramm before diving over for an excellent try.

Pater converted and Saints were flying at 40-5 up, but they suffered another injury blow on a day seemingly full of them as Lockett was hit hard at a breakdown and left the field with his right arm in a makeshift sling made out of his shirt.

The game started to become a really scappy contest in difficult conditions, and Leicester used their mauling game to get them a try as Sam Williams went over.

O'Connor missed the conversion and Saints sent on guest player Jack Kelleher for his debut in place of skipper Sam Graham, who had been limping slightly.

Tigers did well to hold up Ramm after he combined with Tom James and Leicester soon turned their attentions to securing another maul try as former Saints hooker Charlie Clare went over after a huge surge towards the home line.

O'Connor converted and Tigers had nine minutes to claim what would be a bonus-point try.

And they did just that with the clock in the red, moving the ball before Wilf McCarthy made the most of the extra numbers on the left to score.

O’Connor missed the conversion and the final whistle blew as Saints celebrated a deserved win.

Saints: 15 James Martin; 14 Ollie Sleightholme (James Ramm 20), 13 Billy Pasco, 12 Toby Thame, 11 Amena Caqusau; 10 James Pater (Freddie St John 72), 9 Archie McParland (Tom James 56); 1 Oliver Scola (Luke Green 56), 2 Henry Walker (Marco Manfredi 75), 3 Cleopas Kundiona (Sonny Tonga'uiha 56); 4 Ed Prowse, 5 Tom Lockett (Chunya Munga 50); 6 Archie Benson, 7 Charlie Ulcoq, 8 Sam Graham (c) (Jack Kelleher 60).

Leicester Tigers: 15 Orlando Bailey; 14. George Pearson, 13. Izaia Perese (Kesena Izu 56), 12 Joseph Woodward, 11 Ryan Crowley (Wilf McCarthy 75); 10 James O’Connor, 9 Ollie Allan (Charlie Bemand 20); 1 Archie Van Der Flier (Tarek Haffar 44), 2 Finn Theobold-Thomas (Charlie Clare 44), 3. Will Hurd (Ale Loman 44); 4 Harry Wells (George Marsh 78), 5 Tom Manz; 6 Harry Palmer (Josh Manz 44), 7 Sam Williams, 8 Hanro Liebenberg (c).

Referee: George Selwood