Leicester Tigers Defeat Northampton Saints 24-8

Leicester Tigers secured a 24-8 victory against rivals Northampton Saints in Michael Cheika's first home match as head coach, demonstrating grit and physicality throughout the game. The Tigers opened the scoring with a try from Freddie Steward just three minutes in, leading 10-3 at halftime thanks to penalties from Handre Pollard and Fin Smith. Cheika praised the team's defensive performance and the support from a boisterous home crowd, emphasizing the atmosphere as a crucial element for future matches. Despite Northampton's dominance in possession and having five tries disallowed, Leicester's aggressive play, especially in the scrum, proved decisive. The match was marked by intense physicality, with both sides receiving yellow cards and a player from Northampton leaving the field on a stretcher. Ultimately, the Tigers' determination led to tries from Olly Cracknell and Ollie Chessum, sealing the victory despite a late consolation try for Northampton from Tommy Freeman.