Summary

  • Live text updates & radio commentary as Northampton host Leicester in Prem semi-final (19:45 BST)

  • Tom Litchfield scores first-half hat-trick and George Furbank crosses twice as Saints score seven tries to beat Leicester 45-31 and reach final

  • Tigers battled well throughout to stay in the contest and scored five tries of their own

  • Bath play Exeter at the Rec in the second semi-final on Saturday (15:00)

  • The winner will meet Saints in the Prem Final on 20 June at Twickenham

  • Saints finished top of the table in the regular season, with East Midlands rivals Tigers fourth

  • BBC radio commentary available on the Watch & Listen tab

  • Get Involved: Send us your views by clicking on the yellow button on this page

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  1. try

    Try: Northampton 14-12 Leicesterpublished at 17 mins

    Tom Litchfield, con Fin Smith

    And now it's Northampton's time to respond!

    The ball goes loose in the back field following a kick by Saints' Rory Hutchinson.

    Neither Tigers returnees Freddie Steward or Billy Searle really take ownership of the bouncing ball and as it breaks Tom Litchfield is Johnny on the spot to dot down his second try already!

    Fin Smith then kicks Saints back in front.

  2. try

    Try: Northampton 7-12 Leicesterpublished at 13 mins

    Freddie Steward, con Searle

    Freddie StewardImage source, Shutterstock

    What a response it has been from Leicester Tigers!

    Initially excellent defending from Northampton keeps them out five metres from their own line.

    The Tigers come again though and full-back Freddie Steward spots a gap and extends one of his telescopic hands out to dot the ball down over the line.

    Three tries inside the first 13 minutes.

    Billy Searle finds the target this time to add the extra two.

    An absolutely breathless start to this match. Awesome quality.

  3. Postpublished at 10 mins

    Northampton 7-5 Leicester

    Billy Searle kicks deep into Saints territory.

    Joe Heyes drives the Tigers forward after the visitors claim the line-out confidently.

    Breathless stuff already with just 10 minutes gone.

  4. 'That try is massive'published at 19:56 BST 12 June

    Northampton 7-5 Leicester

    Tom Varndell
    Former England and Leicester wing on BBC Radio Leicester

    We said it was going to be 100mph and it's certainly been that but that try is massive.

    First entry into the 22 and come away with a try.

  5. try

    Try: Northampton 7-5 Leicesterpublished at 7 mins

    Hanro Liebenberg, missed con Searle

    They are over - Tigers respond!

    The departing Hanro Liebenberg drives with those big size 14's and Leicester are on the board, following review.

    The back rower was not to be stopped from close range.

    Billy Searle's conversion attempt wasn't his finest work but Tigers are back in it.

  6. Try reviewpublished at 19:52 BST 12 June

    Northampton 7-0 Leicester

    Leicester think they're over.....

  7. 'What a start for the Saints'published at 19:52 BST 12 June

    Northampton 7-0 Leicester

    Chris Ashton
    Former England wing on Radio 5 Sports Extra

    What a start for the Saints!

    I thought Leicester looked short on this right-hand side for a good couple of phases. Northampton just kept the ball in and Tom Litchfield, who I think has been Northampton's best player all season, has proven why.

  8. Postpublished at 6 mins

    Northampton 7-0 Leicester

    How will Leicester respond?

    Well they have a scrum five metres out for a Northampton knock on.

    Here we go....

  9. try

    Try: Northampton 7-0 Leicesterpublished at 2 mins

    Tom Litchfield, con Smith

    Northampton's Tom Litchfield scores a tryImage source, Shutterstock

    What a start!

    It's absolutely fantastic from Henry Pollock who bursts down the right flank.

    The ball is recycled superbly and Tom Litchfield races through and dives over.

    87 seconds in and Northampton are already in - extraordinary. The fastest try ever in a Prem semi-final.

    Fin Smith adds the extra two.

  10. Kick-offpublished at 19:45 BST 12 June

    Northampton 0-0 Leicester

    We are under way in the first of the two Prem semi-finals that are happening this weekend. The atmosphere is absolutely superb inside Franklin's Gardens.

    Hang on to your hats, folks!

  11. 'Saints are my favourites'published at 19:45 BST 12 June

    Northampton Saints v Leicester Tigers (19:45 BST)

    Chris Ashton
    Former England wing on Radio 5 Sports Extra

    I think Northampton are favourites, they've been my best team all year in the Premiership for sure.

    Maybe they've had a weak couple of weeks but they've has come changes, tried to rest some bodies and everybody is back fit tonight a part from a couple of props which could be the most vital people they would have liked to be on.

  12. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 19:44 BST 12 June

    Don't forget to let us know your thoughts on tonight's action as the evening goes on.

    Just click the yellow Get Involved button on this page and tell us what's on your mind.

  13. Postpublished at 19:43 BST 12 June

    Northampton Saints v Leicester Tigers (19:45 BST)

    Along with this live text service, you can also listen to live radio commentary of tonight's match on BBC 5 Live Sports Extra 2, BBC Radio Northampton and BBC Radio Leicester.

    Just click the watch and listen tab near the top of your screen, and once you're signed in, you have a choice of options so pick your poison!

  14. 'Individuals to step up tonight'published at 19:42 BST 12 June

    Northampton Saints v Leicester Tigers (19:45 BST)

    Tom Varndell
    Former England and Leicester wing on BBC Radio Leicester

    It's one of those nights. Derby day, Northampton, semi-final and it sounds a bit cheesy but there is literally no tomorrow. It's all about today, it is the big game, they can't focus on anything ahead of this.

    You feel that over the past couple of weeks this is what they've been building for. The performances haven't been the best from the Tigers and Northampton, but they've got themselves into the knockout phases and you feel they've had one eye on this semi-final for a while now.

    You need individuals to step up and it needs to be a proper team performance. You need some superstars today, someone to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and make a name for themselves.

  15. Postpublished at 19:41 BST 12 June

    Northampton Saints v Leicester Tigers (19:45 BST)

    Media caption,

    Jack & Ian discuss the Tigers team news ahead of the semi-final at Northampton

    You can hear more on the Tigers team news - including those inclusions of Messrs Seale and Steward - in the Leicester Tigers Rugby Show which is out now.

  16. Home form to prove crucial once more?published at 19:40 BST 12 June

    Northampton Saints v Leicester Tigers (19:45 BST)

    Northampton Saints' number eight Henry Pollock smiling after a match.Image source, Getty Images

    As previously mentioned, both Saints and Tigers have beaten each other twice this season.

    All four matches ended in home wins, and with the fifth and final chapter set to be written tonight, Northampton will be buoyed on by their supporters at a sold out Franklin's Gardens.

    86% of all teams to host a semi-final over the years have gone on to earn a place in the Grand Final.

    Can Leicester change that and dash the hopes of their rivals from less than 30 miles away?

  17. 'Saints squad show strength and depth'published at 19:38 BST 12 June

    Northampton Saints v Leicester Tigers (19:45 BST)

    Daisy Hibbert-Jones
    Lightning captain on BBC Radio Northampton

    This shows the strength and depth on the Saints squad.

    The fact that they can replace their starting team with absolutely class replacements and I think that is something that's hugely exciting that they're willing to put in more than an 80 minute performance if that's what it takes.

  18. Searle and Steward return for Tigerspublished at 19:37 BST 12 June

    Northampton Saints v Leicester Tigers (19:45 BST)

    Billy Searle in action for Leicester Tigers.Image source, Getty Images

    Leicester duo Billy Searle and Freddie Steward have both returned from injury in the nick of time and start tonight's semi-final.

    Fly-half Searle last turned out for the Tigers in April but he has now overcome a hamstring problem and comes in for James O'Connor who had to be replaced at half-time against Bath last Saturday due to injury.

    While England international Steward starts at full-back following successful surgery on his thumb, taking the place of George Pearson, and there is also a return to the side for Ollie Hassell-Collins on the wing.

    Leicester Tigers: Steward; Radwan, Wand, Bailey, Hassell-Collins; Searle, Van Poortvliet; Smith, Blamire, Heyes; Martin, Chessum, Liebenberg, Reffell, Moro.

    Replacements: Clare, Van der Flier, Hurd, Henderson, Cracknell, Whiteley, Kata, Perese.

  19. Smith at 10; Iyogun makes 100th appearancepublished at 19:35 BST 12 June

    Northampton Saints v Leicester Tigers (19:45 BST)

    Fin Smith with his head down kicking the ball off the tee for Northampton Saints.Image source, Getty Images

    Unsurprisingly, Northampton Saints boss Phil Dowson rolls the changes from the side that narrowly lost to Harlequins last Saturday after his side had already wrapped up a home semi-final.

    Only four players from that match remain in the starting XV: Tom Litchfield, Curtis Langdon, Josh Kemeny and Tom Pearson.

    Henry Pollock is the number eight and Fin Smith is back at fly-half. The Harlequins-bound George Furbank captains the side at full-back and Emmanuel Iyogun makes his 100th Saints appearance this evening.

    Northampton Saints: Furbank; Freeman, Litchfield, Hutchinson, Hendy; Smith, McParland; Iyogun, Langdon, Millar Mills; Coles, Prowse, Kemeny, Pearson, Pollock.

    Replacements: Wright, Fischetti, Green, Van Der Mescht, Lockett, Chick, Weimann, Dingwall.

  20. Semi-final is 'very winnable' - Parlingpublished at 19:33 BST 12 June

    Northampton Saints v Leicester Tigers (19:45 BST)

    Leicester Tigers director of rugby Geoff Parling looking on through the rain before his side's match against Bath.Image source, Shutterstock

    Leicester Tigers director of rugby Geoff Parling has described tonight's semi-final as "very winnable" in the pre-game build up.

    Tigers lost back to back games at the end of the regular season campaign to slip to fourth in the table but Parling remains confident of his side's chances.

    "I think the game is very winnable. We all know what the stats say but lets go and prove them wrong," Parling told BBC Radio Leicester.

    "Derby day - brilliant. There's been a lot of hard work to get into this position. We haven't really spoke about it in a different way to what we would do if it was a normal game against them.

    "This is going to be a very different game [to the 41-17 win last month]. We will just take it one moment at a time. It's about which team does the basics best and which team stays clear in the moment."