The opening score was created by winger Sam Baker, a product of the club’s mini & junior section, who stripped the ball from an isolated opponent and started a counterattack that was finished off by Jamie Hearn on the opposite wing.

Leicester hit back with a penalty after a Saxons’ defender went off his feet arriving at a tackle, but man of the match scrum half Pete White responded immediately by darting through a gap in the Leicester defence to score straight from the restart kick. Hearn converted and then stretched the lead with a successful penalty kick after an opponent came in at the side of a tackle.

The Saxons got their trademark driving maul moving off an attacking lineout after Leicester strayed offside, with hooker Stewart Pearl the man to ground the ball. The first half ended with centre Will Hurrell in the sinbin though after a clumsy challenge on an opponent in the air.

Before Hurrell’s return the 14-man Saxons struck again on the counter when Hearn collected White’s chip over the defence. Hurrell made up for his absence by receiving a scoring pass from replacement Caolan Ryan who had also found a gap in the defences after Leicester spilled it in attack. The final try was secured from another lineout catch and drive, flanker James Rodley the man to score.

Coach Mike Umaga commented : ‘After struggling with some interpretations last week we talked about composure and the need to work with the match officials, we knew Leicester Lions would come at us hard and try it on but credit to the referee he handled it well. Our pack’s efforts wore them down and we were able to capitalize on that in the second half. The boys can be really proud of their defensive work, and I thought Pete White in particular had a splendid all round game’.