Leicester Tigers v Saracens Premiership Report

Sunday was one of the most cat and mouse games of rugby I have ever watched. On arrival at Welford Road, drink in hand (alas only a Pepsi Max I’m afraid, I was driving to and from Leicester that day). We ended up watching the Tigers players walk over to the main stand from the adjacent hotel, and I feel one could be forgiven that this occasion held a bit more meaning for the supporters. I was attending the match with a good pal of mine who is a neutral/slight Saracens fan, and he seemed fascinated on the matchup between the backrows with the experience of Reffell, Cracknell and Wainwright against the bulk and power of Isiekwe, Barbeary and JMG. Mako v Marcus was also going to be interesting.What was clear was that there was genuine passion out there from both teams and sets of fans alike. Welford Road holds a special place in my heart, having visited numerous times years ago before the North stand (Pharmacy 2U, Holland and Barrett stand or whoever sponsors it) was built. I have been to Welford Road since 2009 but only in 2013 and then more recently 2023. All the same, the Welford road atmosphere is just as intimidating and noisy as it ever was, some things never change. That and the Crumbie terrace always being packed to the rafters. If the 2026-27 Gallagher Premiership was looking for a statement opening weekend, it got one. Somehow after a red card, TMO’s, numerous players unfortunately injured and Ben Earl in the centres, Saracens somehow coming out the right side of it all. I think we can believe the rebuild is going roughly to plan.

First Half

It was clear that we wanted to set the tone from the very first second. A perfectly-placed kick-off from Fergus Burke was matched by a thunderous tackle of a Tigers player into touch from Tobias Elliott. Clear statement of intent. From that helpful attacking platform, we won some early penalties and gained field position. It was to be Juan-Martin who had the final say in the buildup to the try, with numerous phases ending in a lucky deflection off a tigers player and into his grateful hands. 7-0 to Sarries.

The momentum we had worked to build continued. Another try came from Tobias Elliott finishing a flowing move from the backs and double our lead to 14. Two tries, both of real quality and barely 10 minutes in Welford road was silenced. Us travelling supporters were having the times of our lives though and (I think) chanting so loud we could clearly be heard on the tv. At Welford road with 20k+ noisy tigers fans around us, that’s quite an achievement!

Then came a significant moment when Olly Hartley went down injured with an arm issue. An enormous blow for us and this allowed Leicester, who had been second-best to that point, to induce a shift in the game. Solomona Kata, who has been a thorn in the side of so many teams before Sarries, came into his own in the midfield. Tigers started to win the scrum battle and got on the front foot before he collected in a good position, dodged past Tobias Elliott, turned back infield to scamper untouched underneath the posts. The roof at Welford Road lifted and things only got better for Leicester as the match went on. Kata was a headache all day and Ben Earl did very well to mostly deal with him.

Leicester weren't done. Jack van Poortvliet made a dart close to the breakdown before Tigers made some front foot ball with Cam Henderson and Cracknell carrying hard. Our defence was forced to pedal backwards. Gabriel Hamer-Webb read the hands in the backline, found space, and raced into the corner to dot down despite the efforts of Daly (I think?) who tried to tackle him but alas in vain. Billy Searle missed the conversion but from looking as though they were crumbling under sarries pressure to back within 2 points.

We needed a response urgently and the team managed to get one before the break. Lightning ruck speed and clever breakdown work from Tomos Williams stressed the Leicester defence just enough to open a gap outside. Max Malins completed a simple two-on-one with Elliot Daly, importantly making a few metres inroad to give Fergus Burke an easier angle to kick from. This try restored Saracens' nine-point cushion. A crucial score at a crucial time. 21-12 and Burke had been kicking like a dream.

Second Half

The second half really did not start well for Saracens. A clearance kick failed to find touch, pretty  inexcusable at this level and Leicester took full advantage immediately. After a good initial break from Wainwright, the ball went through the hands on the short side and into Hamer-Webb's grasp, and he was gone. The wing, in the right place at the right time once more, made it 19-21 and the match was alive again. So the cat and mouse style continued, with the wolfpack’s response swift and clinical. After kicking to the corner to establish a platform, carries came crashing through in waves, and Ben Earl got the final touch to secure the bonus point. Four tries, and at least one point would be coming with us back to North London.

Gabriel Hamer-Webb completed his hat-trick on the 50-minute mark, once again appearing in exactly the right place on the touchline to finish after a fabulous attacking run from Freddie Steward and then a pinpoint pass from Aaron Wainwright. Just as the match felt like it was shifting irreversibly towards the hosts, it got worse for Saracens. JvP put in a very dinky kick over the ruck and in behind for a certain Adam Radwan to collect and dot down thus giving Leicester a 31-28 lead. Then came Nick Isiekwe’s perhaps less positive impact on the game. He was shown a 20-minute red card for a tackle deemed illegal on Freddie Steward. I only speak my perspective, I felt it looked as though he hit the shoulder first and then rolled up onto the head. A VERY harsh red card in my opinion and Nick was unlucky. The first red in his career I believe. From cruising with a nine-point lead to being behind and a man down. Brilliant, we really needed to dig in.

Playing with 14 men and behind in the game, as usual, we managed to find a way. Leicester’s disclipine massively let them down and that allowed us to get an opportunity to kick into the corner. A catch-and-drive gave them the platform the forwards needed and Elliot Daly found an inch-perfect kick to Rotimi Segun, who dotted down in the corner to nudge Saracens back in front. 31-35.

Leicester, driven by a full house sensing blood, hit back when James Thompson crashed over from short range to retake the lead with 15 minutes to go. 38-35. The match felt like it was slipping away from Saracens.
And yet, in one more twist, Tarek Haffar was binned on 71 minutes after numerous repeat infringements in the Tigers 22, levelling the numerical disadvantage. And with both teams at 14 men, Saracens had the composure and the class to finish it. Rotimi Segun, who already had one on the board, ran in his brace in the corner to put the visitors two points clear at 38-40. A monstrous defensive effort followed, with Saracens refusing to yield a single inch as Leicester threw everything at them in the dying embers. Ironically Mako Vunipola gave away a scrum penalty that effectively secured us the game. From the maul, Charlie Bracken and Co guided the secured ball into touch and that was that. Full time. A final score of 38-40 to Saracens and blimey was it close.

It was very much squeaky bum time at the end, but nonetheless we got the job done and the team+coaches can take inspiration from that. Don't get me wrong the defence was awful at times and our scrum needs work, but those issues we've known about for a while. Onto Sale next Sunday, COYS.