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Is there a bigger rivalry in Premiership rugby? Northampton host Leicester at Franklin's Gardens in what is sure to be a battle of monumental proportions.
The Saints have unfinished business when it comes to Premiership shoot-outs against their East Midlands rivals. Last season they were the losers at Twickenham as the two clubs contested a fiery grand final, which saw Saints captain Dylan Hartley sent off for swearing at referee Wayne Barnes. The talisman will not be part of Jim Mallinder's squad for Friday's clash due to a shoulder injury, but the memories of last year's final will still run raw in the Northampton dressing room.
For all their struggles early on this season, Leicester came through the final two months like a steam train. Ominously for the Saints, the Tigers are the only team to have won at Franklin's Gardens this season and are gunning for a remarkable tenth consecutive Premiership final. Leicester's last outing saw them defeat an albeit weakened Saracens side at Welford Road and star performers such as Manu Tuilagi have upped their game at just the right time.
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| 1 |
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Shaky start from Northampton as Kahn Fotuali'i puts his first box kick out on the full. There has been plenty of chat about the Saints' driving lineout but the Tigers aren't too bad in that area either.
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| 3 |
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Saints earn two penalties in quick succession with Northampton playing one out rugby from the outset
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| 5 |
0 - 3 |
Evans - penalty goal
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| 7 |
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There haven't yet been any clear try-scoring opportunities but the Saints support is just as vocal as it was pre-match
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| 8 |
3 - 3 |
Farrell - penalty goal
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| 9 |
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Penalty for Leicester First blood goes to Leicester with Toby Flood slotting a penalty
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| 10 |
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In these closely fought matches, the odd little kick through can cause panic in defences. Ben Youngs concedes a five-metre lineout
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| 12 |
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First clear try-scoring opportunity of the game but Mathew Tait readjusts his body to put Kahn Fotuali'i into touch a couple of yards out.
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| 13 |
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Phil Dowson thinks he has the first score but JP Doyle rules the effort out saying Saints jumped early in the lineout
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| 16 |
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It's Ben Youngs' turn to mess up his box kick as his effort sails into touch
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| 17 |
6 - 3 |
Big statement of intent from Saints as Stephen Myler turns down the kickable penalty to go for a five-metre lineout
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| 19 |
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The gamble does not pay off in the end with Leicester drawing a penalty. The Saints cannot afford to leave points on the field here
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| 22 |
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Penalty to Northampton It is all-square at Franklin's Gardens as Myler's kick draws the game level
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| 24 |
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Try for Leicester - Neat work from Mathew Tait gives Leicester a good attacking position and Manu Tuilagi is given a walk-in try from Flood's pass
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| 25 |
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Flood adds the extras
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| 28 |
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Niki Goneva is sin-binned for kicking the ball out of Phil Dowson's hands at the back of the ruck
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| 29 |
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Penalty to Northampton - Myler cuts Leicester's lead to four points
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| 32 |
6 - 10 |
Monye - try
Evans - conversion
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| 33 |
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It is all Leicester at the moment despite being down to 14 men. Toby Flood looks like he's struggling a bit but is playing through the pain
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| 34 |
11 - 10 |
Try for Leicester - The pressure eventually pays off as Ben Youngs finds a gap to go over to cue massive celebrations from Richard Cockerill
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| 35 |
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Flood gives Leicester an 11-point lead
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| 37 |
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Great piece of individual skill from Tom Collins sees the Saints make some yards and draw a penalty
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| 39 |
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Real lack of accuracy in Northampton's game so far with their set piece not really hitting the mark
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| 40 |
11 - 15 |
Tigers in charge at half-time and Jim Mallinder has a big team talk to make
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| 40+1 |
11 - 17 |
Evans - conversion
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| 40 |
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| 41 |
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Saints will have to throw everything at Leicester to get back into this game. Alex King at half-time said the Saints need to nullify Julian Salvi
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| 43 |
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Error from Goneva as he takes a quick lineout but it isn't straight. Saints are gifted a good attacking platform
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| 45 |
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Dan Bowden shifts Tom Collins above the horizontal but the Saints winger lands on his back so it is a yellow card and not a red
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| 46 |
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Penalty for Northampton - Stephen Myler slots three points
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| 48 |
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Outstanding play from Mathew Tait as he makes 50 metres or so. This game is getting frantic
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| 51 |
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Alex Corbisiero is on for Northampton, much to the delight of the home fans
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| 52 |
18 - 17 |
Tait has been great with ball in hand but his kicking has been wayward. He knocks the ball out on the full and Northampton have yet another chance in the Tigers' 22
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| 55 |
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Great tempo to the game with the Saints throwing everything and the kitchen sink at Leicester
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| 56 |
21 - 17 |
Well this game normally provokes controversy. Ma'afu is red carded for a one-two punch on Tom Youngs and Youngs sees yellow for his role in the incident
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| 57 |
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| 58 |
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Niki Goneva lucky to escape a second yellow card as he prevents Clark from taking a quick lineout. It's all Saints at the moment
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| 60 |
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| 61 |
26 - 17 |
Big moment there as Leicester force a penalty on their own five-metre line
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| 62 |
28 - 17 |
Farrell - conversion
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| 63 |
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Still so tense at Franklin's Gardens. There's a huge intensity to the game and JP Doyle is checking an incident with Bowden on Foden..
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| 64 |
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Try for Northampton |
| 65 |
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Myler slots the extras and it's a one-point game
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| 70 |
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| 72 |
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Penalty for Leicester - Owen Williams stretches Leicester's lead to four points
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| 73 |
31 - 17 |
Farrell - penalty goal
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| 75 |
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Northampton are doing all they can to get over the try line but eventually their attack comes to nothing
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| 77 |
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Try for Northampton - Incredible scenes as Luther Burrell's pass puts Wood over the line. It's now a one-point game
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| 80 |
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And that's it! Despite being down to 14 men, the Saints are in the final at the expense of their rivals Leicester
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