Leicester see off Saracens to book Anglo-Welsh final spot
LEICESTER set up a shot at winning their first silverware since 2013 with a comprehensive four-try hammering of Saracens.
Expertly led by star man Freddie Burns, Tigers will take on the winners of today’s tie between Exeter and Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop next Sunday.
Leicester coach Geordan Murphy said: “We had some good youth and experience out there and the boys really got stuck in and played for each other. We’re really pleased to reach a final.”
Burns looked sharp as Leicester made the early running and the fly-half created the opening score when his excellent crosskick located Tom Brady, who tapped back for academy product George Worth to notch his first Tigers try.
Burns converted before Saracens responded with heavy pressure, only for Tom Whiteley to blast a penalty off a post after Graham Kitchener infringed at a lineout.
Burns pulled a longrange penalty wide, but Leicester nicked a Saracens throw to roar back on the attack and JP Pietersen almost capitalised on a Burns bomb before home skipper Tim Streather was lucky not to see yellow for taking out Worth.
Worth soldiered on as Burns kicked the penalty to the corner, but Tigers butchered the chance when Mat Tait knocked-on with the line beckoning.
With Leicester dominating possession and territory, Burns smashed over a long-range penalty after Mike Elleray’s high tackle. However, the visitors were caught cold on 28 minutes when scrum-half Henry Taylor broke clear from halfway.
Taylor made 35 metres before offloading to Joel Conlon, who intelligently took contact before Saracens recycled for Taylor to plunge over.
Whiteley failed to convert but, galvanised by their first points, Saracens came again through Elleray, only for Nathan Earle to knockon.
Leicester enjoyed the last word of an entertaining first half when Burns raced through a gap before Harry Thacker broke clear to set up supporting flanker Luke Hamilton for a fine score, Burns converting for a 17-5 interval lead.
Tigers restarted with a brilliant back-handed offload from Pietersen sending George McGuigan racing clear. Saracens scrambled but Leicester recycled and Tait went close before Ellis Genge picked up smartly to score.
Shell-shocked Saracens attempted a response, only for Conlon to be stripped of the ball by Harry Wells. And Brady almost latched on to a Burns cross-kick before Jack Roberts touched down but was adjudged in touch by the TMO.
Saracens introduced their big guns from the bench but Tigers immediately turned over a lineout and then forced a scrum penalty to remain on the offensive. Burns extended his side’s lead after Schalk Burger put hands in a ruck.
Saracens gained hope with their second try on 57 minutes when Elleray broke down the left. Worth and Ben White scrambled to cover but Elleray cleverly held off their attentions before offloading for Matt Gallagher to score.
Saracens came again but any hopes of a comeback were dashed when Burns intercepted Alex Lozowski before racing 75 metres, seeing off speedster Earle in the process, to put Tigers four scores clear.