Northampton overcame the early loss of Matt Dawson to condemn Leicester to their first home Premiership defeat in five years.

The Saints became the first side in 58 matches - since Newcastle in December 1997 - to triumph in a domestic battle at Welford Road.

A brilliant defensive effort led by flanker Andrew Blowers was garnished with tries from Budge Pountney, Ian Vass and Chris Hyndman.

Fly-half Paul Grayson added two conversions and two penalties, while the Tigers could only manage four penalties from Tim Stimpson.

The win lifted Saints above the reigning champions, who are now a massive 13 points behind league leaders Gloucester.

But the visitors had to cope without scrum-half Dawson, who was stretchered off with a knee injury after 10 minutes.

In the wars for England against South Africa last weekend, Dawson took an early blow to the head after a high tackle from Geordan Murphy.

And moments later he was carried off after damaging his knee in a tackle from Martin Corry.

His replacement Vass struggled initially in the damp conditions, but two penalties from Grayson to one from Stimpson edged Saints ahead 6-3 after 21 minutes.

Stimpson missed an opportunity to level the scores with another penalty attempt before Saints seized the initiative with an innovative try in the 32nd minute.

Hooker Steve Thompson shaped to throw to the middle of the line-out, but instead sent an under-arm throw to Pountney, who scampered round to the front and raced over unopposed.

Grayson converted for a 13-3 lead, but the Tigers roared back before the interval and Stimpson cut the deficit with his second penalty.

He added two more on the resumption as the home side stepped up the pressure to bring them within a point.

Northampton lock Rob Hunter was sent to the sin bin for killing the ball as the Saints defence struggled to cope with the onslaught.

But they lifted the siege with 15 minutes remaining when Vass picked up at a ruck and sprinted 30 metres up the left touchline.

Grayson converted to put the visitors 20-12 ahead and two minutes later they grabbed a clinching score.

Again the visiting pack drove to the Leicester line and centre Hyndman evaded Stimpson to score in the left corner.

Leicester: Stimpson; Murphy, Smith, Kafer, Tuilagi; Healey, Ellis; Rowntree, Chuter, Tournaire, M Johnson, Kay, Corry, Kronfeld, W Johnson.
Replacements: Freshwater, Buckland, Balding, Gerry, Tierney, Booth, Lloyd.

Northampton: Beal; Reihana, Hyndman, Leslie, Cohen; Grayson, Dawson; Smith, Thompson, Budgen, Lord, Hunter, Blowers, Pountney, Soden.
Replacements: Richmond, Morris, Phillips, Hepher, Vass, Brooks, Sleightholme.

Referee: Tony Spreadbury (RFU)