Summary

  • Leicester 31-17 Worcester

  • Tigers' win secures play-off spot

  • Northampton 15-14 Bath

  • Saints move up to fifth after recovering from 14-0 down

  1. Leicester are edging closerpublished at 16:49 British Summer Time 30 April 2016

    Leicester 31-17 Worcester

    The second half hasn't quite lived up to the high standard set by the first. 

    Positively Leicester's pack have really exerted themselves on their visitors and Owen Williams' boot remains on song. 

    On the flip side Worcester will be slightly frustrated that they haven't managed to make their opportunities count, knocking on at key points. 

    As the clock ticks down Leicester are edging ever closer to booking their semi-final spot.

  2. Northampton 0-14 Bathpublished at 16:41 British Summer Time 30 April 2016

    Northampton get another kickable penalty but opt to go for the corner again.

    But Bath are strong in defence again and frustrate the hosts once more by winning a scrum, which gives them a chance to eat up some of the clock while they're down to 14 men.

    They have just over five more minutes to survive while a man down.

  3. Sin-bin (Cook)published at 16:36 British Summer Time 30 April 2016

    Northampton 0-14 Bath

    Northampton finally find their stride and stretch the Bath defence for what feels the first time today.

    George North bursts down the left flank and puts the ball back inside.

    Bath are starting to look desperate in the tackle and, as Lee Dickson looks to spread the ball at the breakdown, Chris Cook kicks it out of his hands.

    The Bath scrum-half is shown yellow - his third and Bath's 19th sin-binning of the season.

  4. Northampton 0-14 Bathpublished at 16:34 British Summer Time 30 April 2016

    Bath are on the attack but, in one passage of play, there were several loose balls, turnovers of possession and a few players scattered on the ground needing treatment. Scrappy rugby all round.

    The visitors came close to their third try of the afternoon through Jeff Williams but what could have been the crucial pass was missed.

    At the end of all that, Saints have a scrum in their own 22 for a knock-on.

  5. try

    Try (Evans, con Williams)published at 16:32 British Summer Time 30 April 2016

    Leicester 28-17 Worcester

    Will EvansImage source, Getty Images

    With a Leicester lineout 5m short of the Worcester line it's a sight that the Welford Road faithful know well. 

    The pack set up their famous driving maul and Will Evans finishes the move and scores his first Premiership try. 

    It's an important score in the context of the match as it secures Leicester's bonus point. 

  6. Northampton 0-14 Bathpublished at 16:30 British Summer Time 30 April 2016

    Bath begin the half with possibly their best spell of possession of the afternoon, reaching five phases.

    But then the ball is lost forward in the tackle, and Saints get the scrum just outside their 22.

    Handling errors have been rife today despite sunny conditions.

  7. Kick-offpublished at 16:25 British Summer Time 30 April 2016

    Northampton 0-14 Bath

    The second half has started at Franklin's Gardens after Bath's Rhys Priestland gets us under way.

    England head coach Eddie Jones is in the stands today.

  8. Off the postpublished at 16:25 British Summer Time 30 April 2016

    Leicester 21-17 Worcester

    Worcester have been threatening Leicester's defensive line for a number of minutes and a penalty given away by Dan Cole, for not rolling away, gives Worcester an easy shot of goal. 

    In the conditions Tom Heathcote's kick bounces off the post and heading torwards the final quarter Leicester's lead remains.

  9. April showerspublished at 16:15 British Summer Time 30 April 2016

    Leicester 21-17 Worcester

    Worcester fired out of the changing rooms with purpose but after their initial endeavour both sides are not enjoying the worsening conditions. 

    We've gone from spring sunshine to April showers and, like the opening few minutes, the majority of the rugby is being played in the middle of the park. 

  10. Half-timepublished at 16:10 British Summer Time 30 April 2016

    Northampton 0-14 Bath

    And that is half-time at Franklin's Gardens.

    Northampton have been on top in terms of possession and territory but it's been a scrappy display from the home side.

    Bath, meanwhile, have been clinical on the counter-attack and have taken their scant chances well to put them ahead at the break.

    Surely Saints will be more clinical after the break?

  11. No trypublished at 16:07 British Summer Time 30 April 2016

    Northampton 0-14 Bath

    No tryImage source, Getty Images

    George North and Northampton think they have their first try of the afternoon with just a minute to go to the break.

    But, referee Wayne Barnes rules it out!

    Saints go through the phases and work the ball wide to Harry Mallinder, who offloads to North in contact.

    But Barnes asks the television match official to check the footage, with the hint of a forward pass from the full-back.

    After several replays, they decide not to award the try, to the displeasure of most of those inside Franklin's Gardens.

  12. Forty to go at Welford Roadpublished at 16:05 British Summer Time 30 April 2016

    Leicester 21-17 Worcester

    Both sides are back out on the field and Owen Williams kicks-off what should be an intense second half at Welford Road.

    A little weather warning, the rain has just started to fall, will that make a difference? Let's see.

  13. Northampton 0-14 Bathpublished at 16:02 British Summer Time 30 April 2016

    Teimana Harrison makes a great break down the flank for Northampton, smashing through two tackles.

    However he fails to find a team-mate with his off-load and Bath eventually get a scrum for another Saints knock-on.

    We've just under five minutes to the break.

  14. Northampton 0-14 Bathpublished at 15:58 British Summer Time 30 April 2016

    Northampton v BathImage source, Getty Images

    Saints again put the pressure on following the scrum but Bath regain possession with a penalty at the breakdown as Lee Dickson pulls a neck-roll on Francois Louw.

    Northampton have really dominated possession but they are lacking penetration and their penalty count is stacking up.

    Quote Message

    This is Bath's best away performance for quite some time.

    Andrew Sheridan, BBC Radio Bristol

  15. Northampton 0-14 Bathpublished at 15:56 British Summer Time 30 April 2016

    Northampton pressure again after Lee Dickson takes a quick tap-and-go penalty.

    Saints look to stretch the play but as Mikey Haywood looks to pass wide, Matt Banahan knocks the ball on while going for an interception.

    Scrum to the hosts, about 12 metres out...

  16. Half-time at Welford Roadpublished at 15:53 British Summer Time 30 April 2016

    Leicester 21-17 Worcester

    Telusa Veainu's score, with just eight seconds of the opening-half remaining, takes Leicester into the changing rooms with a four-point advantage.

    Anyone that thought this game would be one-way traffic has been proved wrong because this opening half has been two evenly-matched sides going head-to-head. 

    An intriguing second half awaits. 

    Leicester v WorcesterImage source, Getty Images
  17. Northampton 0-14 Bathpublished at 15:49 British Summer Time 30 April 2016

    Northampton have had most of the possession and territory so far but have been let down by poor decision-making and the odd handling error.

    Ken Pisi is the latest to err, fumbling a clearing kick from Chris Cook.

    Saints haven't quite clicked into gear despite some early pressure. There's about 13 minutes to go until half-time.

  18. try

    Try (Veainu, con Williams)published at 15:47 British Summer Time 30 April 2016

    Leicester 21-17 Worcester

    Telusa Veainu's eighth try of the Premiership season is a stellar score. 

    Dean Ryan and the Worcester Warriors won't want to watch the tape back with the amount of missed tackles but it's Veainu's awareness, and ability to exploit the smallest amount of space out wide that should catch the eye.

    Owen Williams makes the touchline conversion look simple, he hasn't missed yet, and Leicester regain the lead. 

  19. try

    Try (Symons, con Heathcote)published at 15:44 British Summer Time 30 April 2016

    Leicester 14-17 Worcester

    Worcester celebrateImage source, Rex Features

    This time it's Worcester that are the patient ones. After a series of pick and go's, in which the forwards get agonisingly close to the line, the backs finish the job. 

    Francois Hougaard's quick service out means that Andy Symons caps his 50th appearance for the club in style and Tom Heathcote adds the conversion. 

  20. try

    Try (Williams, con Priestland)published at 15:40 British Summer Time 30 April 2016

    Northampton 0-14 Bath

    Wow. What a finish by Jeff Williams.

    Northampton are on the attack and looking purposeful, with Teimana Harrison powering through defenders, but Luther Burrell loses the ball in the tackle, allowing Jonathan Joseph to kick forward.

    Williams hares over halfway and hacks on the loose ball brilliantly and then leaves Ken Pisi stranded.

    The wing showed serious pace and composure there to touch down. Priestland adds the extras again.

    Saints don't know what has hit them.

    Quote Message

    That's an extraordinary counterattack from Bath. From out or nowhere they have got the try.

    Graham McKechnie, BBC Radio Northampton