Leon Lloyd claimed a crucial second-half try

Leicester 23-18 Saracens

A strong second-half performance by Leicester helped them see off the challenge of a brave Saracens side and end a poor run of form.

After trailing 11-8 at half-time, Leicester looked like slumping to an unprecedented fourth defeat in a row.

But second-half tries from Leon Lloyd and Ollie Smith helped put them back in control and once they seized the initiative, they never looked back.

Adryan Winnan gave Saracens the perfect start with his first try of the season getting ahead of Jamie Hamilton.

I never felt we were going to lose - even going into half-time at 11-8 down I didn't feel unduly worried Tigers coach Dean Richards

But 10 minutes later, Leicester were level when they won a line-out close to the Saracens line and Josh Kronfeld was pushed over for his fourth try of the season.

But Saracens never gave up and two Winnan penalties gave his side the lead again.

Geordan Murphy cut the gap with another penalty just before half-time and a brave tackle by Richard Hill to deny Martin Corry kept Saracens in the game.

But it was a more determined Leicester after the break. A Murphy penalty on 56 minutes levelled the game.

Every time we got into their half we let them off the hook Saracens coach Wayne Shelford

Then a break by Murphy led to Smith going over in the corner and seven minutes later Lloyd claimed another score which Murphy converted.

A late injury-time try by Tim Horan, converted by Andy Goode ensured that Saracens finished on a high and they gained a bonus point for their efforts.

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Leicester: Murphy, Holtby, Smith, Kafer, Lloyd, Vesty, J. Hamilton, Jelley, Chuter, Tournaire, M. Johnson, Deacon, Corry, Kronfeld, Balding.
Replacements: West, Back, Garforth, Kay, Tierney, Booth, McMullen.

Saracens: Winnan, Sparg, Shanklin, Sorrell, O'Mahony, Horan, Bracken, Califano, Ross, Marsters, Hooper, Yandell, Benazzi, Hill, Chesney.
Replacements: Storey, Cairns, Parkes, Peacey, Kirton, Goode, Haughton.

Referee: Roy Maybank (RFU)