mens
Gallagher-Prime Minister
Rotimi Segun’s late try came as a thriller Saracens opened their Gallagher PREM campaign with a big 40-38 win Leicester Tigers at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
The visitors withstood the loss of back-rower Nick Isiekwe to a 20-minute second-half red card and were twice behind as this heavyweight early-season clash more than lived up to its billing.
A hat-trick of Wales winger Gabriel Hamer-Webb proved futile for the Tigers as Brendan Venter’s second spell as Sarries’ director of rugby got off to a dramatic start.
Saracens had the first try of the game in just the second minute when Billy Searle was unable to clear a Tomos Williams pass close to his own line, allowing Juan Martin Gonzalez to slot in.
The visitors’ early dominance saw them add a second score 10 minutes from time when Fergus Burke put in a superb long pass which allowed right winger Tobias Elliott to slot into the game.
Leicester got back into business when Solomone Kata picked up Searle’s pass that had fallen to the ground before stepping into acres of space to score for the home side.
The deficit was reduced further in the 27th minute when Freddie Steward dispossessed Hamer-Webb for a corner and Searle’s missed conversion meant Saracens still led by two points.
They went more than one goal wide again when Elliot Daly – now on the left wing after starting at full-back and having a stoppage time at outside center – went over after a break from Max Malins.
Burke’s conversion gave his side a 21-12 lead at half-time, but Leicester revived hopes again when Finn Carnduff’s pass put Hamer-Webb in the clear for his second try of the afternoon.
Sarries pulled one back briefly when Ben Earl went near the post, but Hamer-Webb completed his hat-trick in the 51st minute when he galloped home from Aaron Wainwright’s pass.
Three minutes later, the Tigers were in front for the first time when Adam Radwan headed home Jack van Poortvliet’s superb chip over the Saracens defence.
To make matters worse for the away side, they lost Isiekwe to a 20-minute red card for reckless direct contact with Steward a few stages before Radwan’s goal.
Despite being down to 14 men, Saracens took the lead again with just over an hour to play when Segun got on the end of Daly’s pinpoint cross.
Leicester then went back in front when substitute James Thompson slotted home from close range, only for the momentum to shift again in the closing stages.
Following a yellow card for Leicester loosehead Tarek Haffar, Malins’ pass allowed Segun to tap in the winner with seven minutes remaining.