​A late fightback could not prevent Leicester Tigers losing 27-19 at Northampton in their opening game of the Aviva Premiership.

Tigers were 27-7 adrift going into the final quarter before Scott Hamilton scored two tries in quick succession.

That added to Alesana Tuilagi’s first-half try.

Conversions by Toby Flood and Jeremy Staunton made up the Tigers tally.

But the Saints held on to clinch victory.

For all the reaction, see Monday’s Leicester Mercury