Both sides had some key players on England U19, U20 and Sevens duty so several younger players made appearances.

Saints played an expansive game which delighted the supporters basking in the sun-soaked Tetleys Stand. Tries came from Henry Pyrgos and Greg Moore.

Leicester exploited a couple of defensive lapses and some poor kicks to take the lead after 25 minutes but crucially the Saints hit back to go into the break 17-12 in front.

In the second half the Saints had support players running at pace and the ball carriers, with a number of options, made the correct decisions keeping the ball alive in contact.

The impact of the relentless Saints attack began to take its toll as the Tigers ran out of defenders and holes began to appear in their defence. Moore scored his second try and Grant Anderson, Rob Milligan, Corey Rainbow and Joe Grey also scored - the latter marking his return from a 13-month absence from the game.

Some of the Academy players have been rewarded with selection to the Wanderers for the final Guinness 'A' League match of the season against the Sale Jets on Wednesday evening. Kick-off is at 7:30pm and there is free entry to all season ticket holders (£5 for non-season ticket holders).

Saints' Senior Academy members David Smith, Danny Pointon and John Brake were all on England representative duty this weekend. Smith and Pointon both played a full role in England U19's World Championship victory over Argentina in Belfast that sees England have one foot firmly in the semi-finals.

On the other side of the world, in Adelaide, Brake scored his first England Sevens try in the 20-12 win over Fiji during the group stages of the Australian leg of the IRB Sevens Series.

"That was an unbelievable game to play in," he said. "I was confident before the match and knew we had a chance and just felt that it was all going to come together in time.  It was a make or break game for us.  I think I had a bit of white line fever for my try as I was pretty isolated but I knew it was the last play of the half so I just went for it.  It is a great feeling to beat Fiji."

And Junior Saints Academy forward, Moulton College student Courtney Lawes has today been named in the match-day squad for England U18s next Six Nations Festival match against Wales tomorrow in Glasgow.