The Zurich Premiership title is within a single win of Leicester's grasp after
they emerged victorious from a full-blooded encounter with Northampton on Saturday .
Four penalties from Tim Stimpson, compared to three for Matt Dawson, were
enough to secure a tense - but deserved victory - for a team who cannot
be stopped.
Once again they emerged from a close-fought contest with winning points,
Stimpson securing victory six minutes from time.
And it is precisely because of their ability to keep coming up with successes
like this that a third championship on the trot is almost certainly on its way
back to Welford Road.
No incentive was needed to impose authority in this fierce battle of Midlands
rivalry.
However, with second-placed Northampton - 15 points behind at kick-off
-finding it hard to live up to last season's trophy-winning efforts, there was
an extra edge.
It showed in the pre-match team announcements, determination on home faces as
they emerged from the tunnel, and every tackle once the game got underway.
But Leicester have not become the dominant domestic performers without being
able to handle pressure and they rose above their stereotypical image of dour
achievers by producing almost all the running rugby on show in a tense opening
period.
Saints' Scotland flanker Budge Pountney was sin-binned for his third
deliberate technical offence after just three minutes.
Despite the visitors' dominance, it was Northampton who took the lead through
Dawson's 10th-minute penalty.
Parity was quickly restored by Stimpson, with the pattern being followed later
in the half to send the sides in level.
Saints were thankful that Stimpson appeared to have misplaced his kicking
boots, failing twice in the opening period and again just after the break, by
which time he had reverted to full-back after Geordan Murphy had been replaced
by Glenn Gelderbloom.
But even on his worst days, the former British Lion could not miss when
another opportunity presented itself under the posts and he duly put Leicester
in front for the first time.
Dawson's goalkicking is slightly more reliable, so when Northampton were given
a 40-metre penalty, the impressive England scrum-half levelled thescores again.
Pat Howard had been the victim of Dawson's previous involvement, caught by the
flat of his hand as he ducked into a tackle close to the touchline, leaving the
Australian centre dazed and needing treatment which forced a temporary departure
to the blood bin.
Northampton back-row Andrew Blowers occupied the same room after leaving the
field with blood streaming from a facial wound, but he quickly returned to link
up with Pountney and Pat Lam in a desperate defensive effort.
Lam has been told his services will not be required next season but it had
little effect on his commitment to a typically bruising contest.
But even the mighty Samoan's endeavours were not enough to stop the Leicester
juggernaught, which continues to destroy everything in its path.
Stimpson won the game with his fourth kick six minutes from time and though
Dawson twice had chances to level, on both occasions he pulled penalties across
the posts and fittingly Leicester were on top as the final whistle went.
Teams:
Northampton: Beal, Martin, Bateman, Leslie, Cohen, Brooks,
Dawson, Pagel, Brotherstone, Stewart, Brouzet, Newman, Blowers, Pountney, Lam.
Replacements: Richmond for Brotherstone (59), Phillips for Newman (61).
Not Used: Todd, Hunter, Malone, Tucker, Moir.
Pens: Dawson 3.
Sin Bin: Pountney (3).
Leicester: Murphy, Stanley, Lloyd, Howard, Stimpson, Goode,
Healey, Rowntree, West, Garforth, M. Johnson, Kay, W. Johnson, Moody, Corry.
Replacements: Gelderbloom for Murphy (40),
Cockerill for West (73), Gustard for W. Johnson (68).
Not Used: O'Reilly, Balding, Jelley, Nebbett.
Pens: Stimpson 4.
Att: 9,800
Ref: Rob Goodliffe (RFU).
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