Tigers triumph for the grieving Youngs family
GEORGE FORD guided Leicester into their first Premiership final for nine years – then dedicated the win to the stricken Youngs family.
Ford scored 22 points, including a brilliant try. The fly-half also made the try that put the game to bed as he he fed England full-back Freddie Steward to score in the corner.
The win was set against the backdrop of the death of Tiffany Youngs, wife of former Tigers skipper Tom, after her battle with cancer.
Tom’s younger brother Ben started this game and took part of a minute’s applause for his sister-in-law.
Ford said: “Some things are bigger than rugby and what the Youngs family have been through nobody can ever imagine.
“That effort today from everyone here at Welford Road was for theyoungs family. What a family they are.”
The teams were level at 3-3 after half an hour but
Saints had
Leicester 27 Northampton 14
already wasted three glaring chances following mistakes by South African wing Courtnall Skosan.
As it was they went in at half-time 6-6, after Ford and Dan Biggar swapped penalties and with the Tigers a man down after wing Guy Porter was binned for a high shot on centre Rory Hutchinson.
Biggar limped off with 30 minutes left but his replacement James Grayson scored to put Saints ahead before the vital try by Steward on 69 minutes.
He played most of the game on the wing after an early injury to centre Dan Kelly forced a backline reshuffle.
Ford then nailed the match with a drop goal to set up the trip to Twickenham.
Northampton skipper Lewis Ludlam said: “It’s a tough pill to swallow. They were the better team today. We had the chances but we didn’t finish them and they did.”