Josh Kronfeld's second-half try helped Leicester to a third consecutive win at the expense of Midlands rivals Northampton.

International call-ups affected both sides - Saints were missing seven front line players, while Tigers had six men at Twickenham.

And it was Leicester who coped the better, dominating after the interval with man-of-the-match Kronfeld scoring the game's only try in the 72nd minute.

Saints' day was made worse when ex-Wallabies forward Mark Connors was helped off clutching his shoulder in the 67th minute.

Tigers kept it plain and simple, with their forwards dictating play through Martin Corry, Adam Balding and Dorian West.

It took Leicester just four minutes to take the lead with a penalty from full-back Geordan Murphy.

He then swapped penalties with Saints fly-half Paul Grayson before the break and made it 9-3 to Leicester in the 50th minute.

The Leicester pack had a stranglehold on the game and Kronfeld was driven over the line from a close-range maul set up from a line-out drive.

Murphy converted to put a dampener on Northampton's celebrations for the opening of their new West stand.

Northampton: Beal, Sleightholme, Tucker, Leslie, Ripol, Grayson, Howard, Morris, Richmond, Budgen, Phillips, Connors, Seely, Blowers, Soden.

Leicester: Murphy, Lloyd, Smith, Kafer, Booth, McMullen, Ellis, Freshwater, West, Tournaire, Deacon, Corry, W. Johnson, Kronfeld, Balding.

Ref: Dave Pearson (RFU).