Leicester shrugged off the rain and a feisty Northampton to run in four second-half tries and claim East Midlands bragging rights.
Leicester Tigers turned a soaked, bad-tempered East Midlands derby into a statement win, scoring four tries after the break to overpower Northampton Saints.
The weather set the tone. Heavy rain made handling a lottery and kept the contest tight and physical, and the sides traded hard carries and sharp words in a game that never settled into a rhythm. Nothing was handed out cheaply.
The second half was where Leicester pulled clear. While conditions kept tripping up the ball in hand, the Tigers adapted better, kept their composure and took their chances when Northampton's grip on the game loosened. Four tries in that spell turned a scrap into a convincing result.
For a Tigers side looking to rediscover its bite, beating its fiercest rival in such miserable conditions is a morale boost. Northampton, meanwhile, will have plenty to review after letting a physical contest slip away once the pressure told.
