Leicester Tigers 19-10 Saracens – Delight at Welford Road as home side secure battling win in Gallagher Premiership

Handre Pollard won the battle of the World Cup fly-halves against Owen Farrell as his Leicester Tigers side roared back into contention for the Gallagher Premiership play-offs with a merited 19-10 home win over defending champions Saracens.

It was the South African World Cup winner Pollard who helped seal a deserved victory at Welford Road for The Tigers as he fed Harry Simmons out wide on 61 minutes for the match-clinching try before adding the conversion for the only score of a dominant second-half display.

Dan Kelly (11′) and Matt Rogerson (34′) had helped the home side establish a 12-10 lead at the break after a Farrell penalty and conversion saw Sarries move 10-5 ahead after Tom Parton’s brilliant, opportunistic finish on 20 minutes.

Leicester remain seventh in the standings, but are within two points of Saracens in sixth after 11 rounds of the campaign with leaders Northampton Saints on 39 points following their epic 42-36 comeback victory at Exeter.

Saracens coach Mark McCall was asked whether the reports had affected his team ahead of the match, and said on TNT Sports: “Not sure. Like I said before the game, we have an injury list we haven’t encountered for a while.

“Having a cohesive team is not something we’ve had so far. We hope to have that coming up.”

Farrell did not look fazed by the talk about his future, but his side came out second best on the day.

It could prove to be a monumental day for the 2022 Premiership champions Leicester, who were guilty of several handing errors in the visiting half from scoring positions that would surely have made the winning margin a bit more convincing.

As it was, they got the job done with plenty to spare in the end to move within two points of Saracens in the table.

While a deflated Sarries have suffered five defeats in 11 matches – as many as they lost in the entirely of last season – Leicester will feel positive about an identical record in the Premiership, such is the momentum they will gain from the nature of this victory.

A towering performance of dynamic tackles up front from the England lock in helping his side dominate the second half with a no-nonsense display of powerhouse rugby in the scrum and line-out ball.

Also denied Juan Martin Gonzalez the chance of a break late on with a superb effort to nudge the Sarries man into touch as the visitors desperately tried to rescue the match from deep.

“We’re really proud,” said the England player on TNT Sports. “That was a team effort, it was a massive, massive game for us and it was a full 80-minute game for us.”

Leicester: Steward 7, Simmons 7, Kelly 6, Kata 6, Brown 8, Pollard 7, Whiteley 8, Cronin 7, Montoya 7, Heyes 7, Martin 7, O. Chessum 8, Rogerson 7, Reffell 7, Wiese 8

Saracens: Parton 7, Segun 6, Daly 7, Tompkins 7, Cinti 7, Farrell 7, Simpson 6, Crean 6, Pifeleti 6, Judge 6, Itoje 7, Tizard 7, McFarland 7, Gonzalez 7, Earl 7

11′ TRY FOR THE TIGERS! Well, the man of the moment Owen Farrell provides a New Year gift to Dan Kelly, who accepts his loose pass to charge through and over the line for a 5-0 lead. No conversion from Pollard from a tough angle. Remarkable scenes.

20′ TRY FOR SARACENS! Brilliant from the visitors as Farrell and Daly link in midfield before Daly speeds up field to play in Parton for an easy score. Release pass spot on. And Farrell adds the two points from the tee. It is 7-5 to Sarries, and that was a breathtaking score.

34′ AND LEICESTER MOVE AHEAD! A few visiting players caught offside after a Tommy Reffell power play. Opt for the scrum and at the second time they go over the line despite the penalty advantage, which is not needed. Big men involved in knocking back Sarries before Rogerson goes over. What a game this is! A 12-10 lead for Leicester. ]

38′ LEICESTER TRY RULED OUT So close to a second score for Dan Kelly. Chipped over the top and chased down the loose ball, but Daly does well to make up the hard yards and prevent him grounding the ball. It remains 12-10 to Leicester. Phew! So close!

57′ YELLOW CARD FOR ITOJE The England lock is deemed guilty of foul spoiling play for hauling down Jasper Wiese on the charge. Not sure there was much wrong with that. But back with the scrum chance for Leicester.

61′ TRY FOR THE TIGERS! So much scrum pressure before Harry Simmons goes over for his first Gallagher Premiership try. Pollard with a lovely pass out wide to play in Simmons, and he slots the conversion to steer Leicester 19-10 clear.

Leicester Tigers have now won 27 matches against Saracens in the Gallagher Premiership compared to 26 wins by Sarries against the Tigers. With four draws between the teams.