Rotimi Segun scored a late try as Saracens secured victory over Leicester despite twice falling behind and playing part of the second half with a player sent off.
A picture of rugby ball taken in Sydney, New Zealand on November 5, 2020. Saeed KHAN / AFP
Rotimi Segun’s late try sealed victory for Saracens as they opened their Prem Rugby season with a dramatic 40-38 win away to Leicester on Sunday.
Saracens overcame losing back-row forward Nick Isiekwe to a 20-minute red card in the second half as well as twice falling behind.
Wales wing Gabriel Hamer-Webb scored a hat-trick of tries for the Tigers, but his efforts were unable to prevent former South Africa international Brendan Venter making a winning start to his second spell as Saracens’ director of rugby.
London club Saracens opened the scoring in just the second minute when Juan Martin Gonzalez crossed Leicester’s line following a pass from Tomos Williams.
Saracens had a second try before 10 minutes were on the clock through right wing Tobias Elliott.
Leicester hit back through Hamer-Webb before Elliot Daly crossed for Saracens, who led 21-12 at the break.
Hamer-Webb then scored two tries, either side of one from Saracens and England back-row Ben Earl, before Leicester went ahead for the first time when Adam Radwan went in off Jack van Poortvliet’s superb chip over the Saracens defence.
Saracens were reduced to 14 after Isiekwe made head-on contact with Freddie Steward several phases before Radwan’s score.
But Saracens still led again with just over an hour when Segun got on the end of Daly’s precise cross-field kick.
Leicester were then back in front when replacement James Thompson blasted his way over from close range, only for a sliding Segun to secure a win for Saracens with a try seven minutes from time.
