Leicester set up Saracens showdown after battling past Northampton

LEICESTER, England :Leicester will face Saracens in their first English rugby Premiership final in nine years after they survived a severe test from local rivals Northampton to emerge 27-14 winners in a bruising semi-final at Welford Road on Saturday.

Trailing, a man down and up against it early in the second half, Leicester hit back with tries by George Ford and Freddie Steward and Ford then made sure with a drop goal and penalty to take his tally to 22 points.

The win sparked wild scenes among the home fans, who for years lorded it but who have had to suffer thin times in recent seasons.

Leicester are England’s most successful side with 10 league titles but the last of them came in 2013. That was their ninth successive final appearance but they then lost four successive semis and had not made the playoffs since until Saturday.

The final will be between the teams who finished first and second in the regular season - having finished last and second-last two years ago - as head coach Steve Borthwick continues his remarkable rebuilding job.

"What a place, what a club, what a set of people," said Ford, who is leaving to join Sale next season and paid tribute to team mates Ben and Tom Youngs after Tom's wife Tiffany died from cancer this week.

"Some things are bigger than rugby and that was for that family today," he said.

"I've been here eight years in two stints and I've loved every second if it and I don't think you'll come across a more traditional rugby club. I'm going to miss it greatly.

"We've got ourselves into a position to do something special next week. We're going to have to be at our very best but we can't wait for it."

It was 6-6 at halftime after two penalties each for Ford and Dan Biggar but Northampton will wonder