Saints drowned by late Flood

Leicester Tigers scored two tries in the last nine minutes to seal a 29-19 victory against Northampton Saints in Wednesday evening's east Midlands derby.

Dan Hipkiss, returning from injury after missing two games, struck the crucial blow by touching down in the 71st minute to edge the Tigers 21-19 in front.

And the result was iced by Toby Flood, who stroked a penalty and scored a try late on to complete a personal 19-point haul.

Leicester looked to be heading for back-to-back home defeats when Stephen Myler's penalty with the last kick of the first half gave the visitors a 16-9 lead at the break.

Northampton had thrown away half-time leads in their previous two away games and were starting to wobble when Leicester drew level at 16-16 courtesy of Johnny Murphy's converted try in the 56th minute.

Myler added a penalty with 11 minutes left to put Northampton 19-16 in front, before the Tigers turned things around in the final stages.

Ellis returns

Leicester welcomed back England internationals Harry Ellis and Hipkiss, both of whom missed last Friday's defeat at home to Wasps.

Northampton made five changes from the 26-12 defeat at Saracens last time out, but it was Leicester who scored first through Flood's second-minute penalty.

Leicester's early momentum came to a halt in the 10th minute when Boris Stankovich was yellow carded for a stamp on Euan Murray.

Myler put Northampton level in the 11th minute and, after Flood edged Leicester back in front with another three pointer, Northampton went ahead for the first time in the 17th minute through Murray's try.

The conversion and a 23rd-minute penalty from Myler put the visitors 13-6 up, Flood and Myler then exchanged penalties to send Saints into half-time with their seven-point advantage intact.

Leicester were on the front foot from the start of the second half and got back on level terms at 16-16 when Murphy was sent over by Ellis in the 56th minute and Flood converted.

Myler put Northampton back in front with 11 minutes left - before Leicester finished strongest to emerge victorious.