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Try-saver was vital moment says Crane

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Jordan Crane identified a try-saving tackle from forward colleague Graham Kitchener as the key moment in Saturday's Aviva Premiership Final victory at Twickenham.

After a lightning start saw Tigers take a 10-point lead inside eight minutes, Northampton Saints claimed their first points with a try from Stephen Myler, and Tigers led 13-5 when Kitchener just halted a second Saints score from Ben Foden.

England international full-back darted into the left-hand corner but Kitchener managed to wrap him up in a tackle as he reached the line.

Referee Wayne Barnes took the decision upstairs and the Television Match Official adjudged Foden had his foot in touch in goal before managing to get the ball down.

“We came out and blew them away in the first 10 minutes but then perhaps we got a bit complacent,” said No8 Crane who took over the captaincy when Toby Flood left the field just 24 minutes into an epic final.

“They came back at us and we had to dig in. Perhaps Kitch’s try-saving tackle changed the game for us.

“We just stuck to it and thankfully we came through it in the end. It’s great to get the win, especially after the last two years.”

Final victory crowned a remarkable comeback season for Crane who missed the entire 2011/12 season after knee surgery but has been an almost ever-present in 2012/13.