Litchfield hat-trick fires Northampton past Leicester and into Premiership final

Tom Litchfield’s first-half hat-trick powered Northampton Saints to a 45-31 victory over Leicester Tigers at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday, sending the league leaders into the Gallagher Premiership final at Allianz Stadium next weekend.

Litchfield’s treble was the centrepiece of a seven-try Saints performance that also featured two scores from George Furbank on his home farewell before his move to Harlequins, with Tommy Freeman and Archie McParland also crossing. Leicester, to their credit, never stopped competing — Ollie Hassell-Collins claimed two of their five tries — but Northampton’s electric attack ultimately proved too much to contain.

The match burst into life inside two minutes when Henry Pollock’s carrying created the space for Litchfield to glide over after just 87 seconds. Leicester responded with a Hanro Liebenberg pick-and-go and a Freddie Steward try on his comeback from a broken thumb, but Saints hit back each time. Litchfield’s second came from a mix-up between Steward and Billy Searle, before Fin Smith chipped ahead for Freeman to score and open up daylight.

Hassell-Collins pulled one back with a Searle kick-pass finish, yet Litchfield completed his hat-trick by muscling over from close range following a Freeman break, sending Northampton into the interval firmly in control.

Leicester continued to threaten after the break — Orlando Bailey crossed to keep the Tigers in touch — but Furbank’s second try with six minutes remaining finally settled the contest and confirmed Saints’ place at Twickenham.

Smith was named man of the match, with Pollock — who led all players with 24 carries — a close contender. England head coach Steve Borthwick watched from the stands as several international players from both sides shone in a frantic, high-quality play-off.

Northampton have now scored 111 tries in the Premiership this season and will await the winners of Saturday’s semi-final between Bath and Exeter, knowing that having finished as regular-season leaders, they arrive at the final as the team to beat.