Victory in week of sorrow
GEORGE FORD guided Leicester Tigers 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 breaking from the Saints 22, as Leicester set up a clash with Saracens next Saturday.
He also made the try that put the game to bed, Freddie Steward scoring in the corner.
But the win was set against the backdrop of the death of Tiffany Youngs, the wife of former skipper Tom, this week after battling cancer.
Tom’s younger brother Ben started the match despite the tragedy and was part of a minute’s applause for his sister-in-law before the game.
Ford said: “Some things are bigger than rugby and what the Youngs family have been through nobody can ever imagine, to be honest.
“That effort today, from everyone here at Welford Road, was for the Youngs family.”
Steward played most of the game on the wing after injury to centre
Dan Kelly, but was in the right place and right time on 69 minutes. The teams were level at 3-3 after half an hour but Saints had wasted three glaring chances with Courtnall Skosan racking up a hat-trick of knock-ons and dropped passes.
Chances
Skipper Lewis Ludlam said: “It’s a tough pill to swallow.
“There’s not much I can say. They were the better team today. The thing is we had the chances but we didn’t finish them and they did.”
The teams went in at half-time 6-6 with Tigers a man down after Guy Porter was binned for a high shot on centre Rory Hutchinson.
Tommy Freeman’s try put Saints ahead but Ford soon replied.
Dan Biggar limped off but James Grayson put Saints 14-13 up before Steward’s score. Ford then nailed the match with a drop goal. LEICESTER: Tries: Ford, Steward; Con: Ford; Pens: Ford (4); Drop goal: Ford
NORTHAMPTON: Try: Freeman; Pens: Biggar (2), Grayson