Leicester Tigers have fallen 32-17 to Saracens at StoneX Stadium in London.
Despite creating enough chances to be in the contest against a full-strength Saracens side, Tigers couldn’t find the cutting edge in front of Sarries’ line.
Tigers began the game with the intensity that was going to be required to beat the defending champions, buoyed by the return of their rugby World Cup stars.
Jamie Shillcock would open the scoring with a beautifully struck penalty goal inside 10 minutes, but Saracens were also beginning to grow into the game.
Sarries’ first try eventually came, Maro Itoje the one to cross. That effort was followed by Andy Christie 10 minutes later, with Owen Farrell locking a pair of conversions.
That made the score 14-3 as the teams headed for the changing rooms.
Tigers needed to strike first in the second half, but it was Saracens who got out of the blocks, Billy Vunipola muscling his way over the line.
That try and conversion made it 21-3 and after Jamie George scored in the 53rd minute, the game as a contest was likely beyond Tigers reach.
Tigers would get one back through Tom Whiteley , a charge down on Saracens 22-metre line seeing the scrum-half go over untouched.
Farrell added a pair of penalties either side of Shillcock’s excellent try.
Shillcock found a gap in Saracens defence and showed impressive speed to score.
The final tally, 32-17, a fair reflection of Saracens control of the game.
Commentary
FIGHTING TIGERS DEFEATED
A fighting Leicester Tigers side are defeated 32-17 by a star-studded Saracens squad at StoneX Stadium.
TWO CHANGES FOR TIGERS
Late changes made by Dan McKellar with Charlie Atkinson (back) on, after a brief stint earlier through Jamie Shillcock HIA, and Will Hurd is replaced by Dan Richardson in the front-row.
PEN | SARACENS
Owen Farrell, with one second left on the shot clock, lands a long range penalty-goal to extend the Saracens lead to 32-17 in the 74th minute.
CON | JAMIE SHILLCOCK
Jamie Shillcock converts his own try, from out wide, to cut the deficit to twelve points, 29-17, with ten minute remaining.
TRY | JAMIE SHILLCOCK
Leicester get their second try, through Jamie Shillcock, after a big right-hand fend from the fly-half on his opposite number sends him into space to run it over and dot it down.
PEN | SARACENS
The home side extend the lead by three, 29-10, with a penalty-goal for Owen Farrell.
TIGERS CHANGES
Sam Carter is off for Harry Wells, just a few moments after Charlie Clare and Tom Whiteley were replaced by Nic Dolly and Joe Powell.
CON | CHARLIE ATKINSON
Charlie Atkinson kicks the conversion following the Tom Whiteley try to cut the deficit to 16 points, 26-10, with 25 minutes remaining.
TRY | TOM WHITELEY
Leicester get across for a five-point and it's scrum-half Tom Whiteley who dots it down after latching on to a loose ball, thanks to a charge down on a Saracens clearing kick.
TRY | SARACENS
Saracens have a fourth, and bonus-point, after Jamie George scores from the back of a driving maul for the home side to extend the lead to 26-3 after 55 minutes.
KATA ON FOR LEICESTER DEBUT
Solomone Kata is on, in place of Guy Porter in the Tigers midfield, for his club debut after arriving a few weeks ago following World Cup duties with Tonga.
Meanwhile, Francois van Wyk is also now in the mix at loosehead after replacing James Cronin up front.
50
LINE-OUT OFF THE MARK
Issues at line-out time causing headaches for Tigers, ending the attack within striking distance of Saracens try-line, and continuing frustrations for the visitors.
50
TIGERS PACK PUSH THROUGH SARRIES
After a tough opening period in the second half, Leicester's forwards win a penalty with a HUGE scrum and kick into touch deep inside the Saracens half.
HIA | JAMIE SHILLCOCK
Jamie Shillcock is off for a Head Injury Assessment (HIA) and replaced by Charlie Atkinson at fly-half for Leicester.
CON | SARACENS
Owen Farrell converts his side's third try, from in front, to make it a 21-3 lead after 45 minutes.
TRY | SARACENS
Saracens have a third, through Billy Vunipola, after the back-rower crashes over from close range.
44
TMO CALLED UPON...
Craig Maxwell-Keys has referred a decision to the TMO, with an on-field call of No Try, after Saracens end up over the line.
SECOND-HALF AT SARRIES
The home side get the game going again at StoneX Stadium, leading 14-3 after the first 40 minutes.
AT THE BREAK...
Saracens take a 14-3 lead into the changing rooms in North London after the first 40 minutes.
CRACKNELL FAILS HIA
Olly Cracknell will not return after failing his HIA, meaning Matt Rogerson will remain on in the Leicester back-row.
HIA | OLLY CRACKNELL
Olly Cracknell heads back to the changing room for a Head Injury Assessment (HIA) and is replaced in the Leicester back-row by Matt Rogerson.
30
HALF AN HOUR DOWN
The game is opening up a little at StoneX Stadium after half an hour of play, with both sides exploring a bit more with ball in hand in attack in the previous 10 minutes.
CON | SARACENS
Owen Farrell is two from two after landing the conversion attempt following his side's second try to make it a 14-3 lead after 27 minutes.
TRY | SARACENS
The home side have a second, on the back of territory gained through infringements from Tigers, and a patient build-up, ruck by ruck, is rewarded as Any Christie reaches out to score.
20
STILL TIGHT AFTER TWENTY
It remains a four-point difference, 7-3 to Saracens, after a quarter of today's game here in North London.
CON | SARACENS
Owen Farrell converts the Maro Itoje try to see his side lead by four points, 7-3, after 15 minutes.
TRY | SARACENS
The home side find their way through the Leicester defence with some quick hands, on the back of a strong line-out deep inside the Tigers half, and Maro Itoje is the man to get it over the chalk.
PEN | JAMIE SHILLCOCK
A penalty against the home side offers up a chance for points to Leicester and Jamie Shillcock lands the penalty-goal attempt from near halfway in the 9th minute.
5
THE LONG GAME
Both sides playing the territory game, through the boot, early on here at StoneX Stadium.
UNDERWAY IN LONDON!
The age-old rivalry between Leicester and Saracens is about to write another chapter as we get going at StoneX Stadium!