Home draw for Saints

Northampton have ensured themselves a home semi-final draw in the LV= Cup after scoring a 23-11 victory over Leicester at Franklin's Gardens.

Defeat for the Tigers has in all likelihood ended their hopes in the competition as they will need Saracens to lose at home to Newport-Gwent Dragons to stand any chance of progressing.

An entertaining game went the way of the Saints thanks to their more clinical finishing. They set the tone with an early try and the chances Leicester had of staging a comeback were extinguished owing to the penalties they conceded at vital stages.

The home side went ahead within two minutes after winning a line-out 22 metres out from their opponents' line. Stephen Myler then passed inside to Paul Diggin and the wing carved his way through the Tigers' defence with Myler converting.

Leicester made efforts to respond immediately but despite dominating possession for the next 10 minutes or so, they were unable to do so as Northampton gained turnover ball yet found themselves unable to clear their lines.

The visitors eventually gained their reward when Billy Twelvetrees kicked a 45-metre penalty after seventeen minutes to reduce Northampton's lead.

However, the Saints' second try came just four minutes later and was Alan Dickens' first for his club.

It came from a scrum 40 metres out, with Chris Ashton running on an angle before his quick distribution set up the scrum-half to cross - Myler converting well from the touchline.

Quality

Leicester responded immediately though with a quality try of their own inspired by Lucas Amorosino.

The full-back fielded a Myler up-and-under in his own 22 and then ran more than 60 metres, passing a number of Saints' defenders before handing the scoring pass to Twelvetrees. Sam Vesty missed the conversion.

The Tigers should have scored again just before half-time but Alesana Tuilagi was unable to pick up the loose ball close to the Saints' line.

The visitors therefore found themselves 14-8 down at the interval, a deficit which increased four minutes into the second half when Myler kicked a 30-metre penalty.

Twelvetrees had the chance to immediately pull back the three points but his kick from near halfway fell narrowly short.

The home side continued to press forward and when Leicester were penalised for pulling down a maul in the 52nd minute, Myler struck again with another penalty.

Leicester finally relieved the pressure as Amorosino set off on an elusive run but the Argentinian's contribution ended soon after when he suffered a leg injury and had to be carried from the field.

Twelvetrees kicked a penalty just past the hour but despite their efforts, Leicester could not find a way back.

Northampton sealed the victory when replacement Barry Everitt scored an easy penalty with the last kick of the match.