Mike Brown’s outstanding debut helps Leicester hold off leaders Saracens

Squinting into the bright midlands sunshine in the first half it was as if the clock had been rewound to another era entirely. Mike Brown playing with the exuberance of distant youth, Chris Ashton riding shotgun and Jimmy Gopperth, allegedly now 39, still making things tick in midfield. So much for the oval-shaped episode of Last of the Summer Wine we were all meant to be watching.

The illusion could not be sustained indefinitely but even a furious second-half revival from Saracens failed to ruin the distinctly old school vibe. While the Tigers may have fielded the oldest backline in Premiership history – average age 33 years and three months – they ultimately had too much early vim and vigour for the competition leaders, previously beaten only once in the league all season.

There was a distinctly tense finish, however, as Leicester’s senior citizens were slowly reeled back in from 24-3 ahead. Held up over the line twice and saved by a couple of other costly Saracens misjudgements with a winning try beckoning, the Tigers needed a dollop or two of luck but are now back within four points of third-placed Northampton in an increasingly congested league table.

Saracens, pipped at the post by the same opponents in last summer’s final at Twickenham, were left to rue a desperately sluggish start and their second-half profligacy in their opponents’ 22. Just six points behind with half an hour to play they appeared the more likely winners, a last-ditch turnover from Julián Montoya proving a particularly key intervention after Alex Lozowski had seemed certain to score.

Two further fumbles by the replacement hooker Theo Dan and a penalty conceded for backchat were other crucial moments but it would have been mighty tough on Brown,