George Furbank, on his final Northampton appearance at Franklin's Gardens, roared after scoring the try that sent his side to the Premiership final. The Saints secured a 45-31 victory over Leicester in a thrilling semi-final, setting up a showdown with the winners of Bath vs Exeter.
First-Half Hat-Trick Sets the Tone
Tom Litchfield's first-half hat-trick gave Northampton the edge in a seesawing East Midlands derby. The game was breathless from start to finish, with attack holding sway throughout. It was only when young scrum-half Archie McParland collected the Saints' sixth try with 15 minutes remaining that the balance of power shifted decisively.
Leicester's Fightback Falls Short
Leicester clawed their way back through Ollie Hassell-Collins, but Furbank put the game to bed with his second try. The 262nd edition of this derby featured 12 tries, seven to Saints, and every spectator had more than their money's worth.
Standout Performances
Northampton's England contingent impressed, with Henry Pollock making 26 carries. Ollie Chessum and Tommy Reffell were persistent menaces for the Tigers. Leicester's Geoff Parling described the outcome as tough to take, saying it was the hardest speech he'd ever had to give.
Phil Dowson praised Pollock's efforts, noting his power and ability to beat players with speed. Litchfield opened the scoring after two minutes, but Leicester hit back with tries from Hanro Liebenberg and Freddie Steward. At 12-7 after a dozen minutes, it was already a stirring contest.
Key Moments
Leicester's confidence grew, but they were caught by quickfire sucker punches. A muddle from Billy Searle and Steward allowed Litchfield to pounce for his second, and Fin Smith's chip set up Tommy Freeman for a try. The next score felt psychologically important, and Northampton appeared to have another, but Freeman's pass was forward.
Leicester then scored through Hassell-Collins, but Litchfield made the line for his third try before halftime. The third quarter was crucial, with Furbank scoring a popular try three minutes after the resumption. Leicester responded through Orlando Bailey, but a try by Elliot Millar Mills was ruled out for a knock-on.
The pace seemed unsustainable, but no one gave an inch. A sweet moment of quality saw Tom Pearson feed Fraser Dingwall, whose inside pass gave Furbank time to release McParland. The skipper's second try gave the game a fitting final flourish, sending Saints marching to another final.
