In the complicated formulations of the group phase of the LV= Cup, the permutations by the last round were finally becoming clear.

Realistically only a win against Northampton would give Tigers a chance to progress, with the equation being that they had to do better than Saracens yesterday at home to the Dragons.

Tigers travelled to Franklin's Gardens with much the same side that had beaten Bath in the competition last week.

Tom Youngs stepped in for Joe Duffey at hooker after looking the player in better form when he went on against Bath, and Dan Hemingway was in the second row for Calum Green, who was busy assisting the England Under-20 team beat their Welsh counterparts 41-14 at Kingsholm.

Tigers decided to rest a few of the remaining first-choice players they have available during the international window.

By contrast, the Northampton team, although missing a few, was close to a first-choice-from-those available line-up.

In spite of this, Tigers performed perhaps better than expected, and may well have won on another day.

To say they were dominant would be an overstatement, given the continuing inability of the LV= Cup team to win their own line-out ball.

But the rub of the green and the finishing did not quite go their way on the day.

Billy Twelvetrees again grabbed a try and must be pushing for regular first-team consideration.

Lucas Amorosino, returning from injury, was the pick of Tigers' backs and his broken-field running from the back three is as good as anyone out there – and not just for Tigers.

Hopefully the injury he picked up will not be serious.

The young man's willingness to learn and his enthusiasm will be needed later in the season.

The tournament was effectively lost in the first game against Leeds in which Tigers played something close to the youth team after the heroic victory a few days before against South Africa.

Ian Cockerill is a long-standing contributor to Tigers' programme.