Saracens eased to 6-5 for league after Tigers defeat

SARACENS suffered their first home league defeat for more than a year as a late drop-goal from Leicester’s Geordan Murphy gave the Tigers a 20-19 win on Sunday.

Ladbrokes eased Sarries to 6-5 to top the regular-season table, with leaders Harlequins their 10-11 favourites.

Leicester had been up to five-point handicap underdogs but led 12-10 at half-time and the win takes them back into the top four.

Kickers Alex Goode and Toby Flood converted four penalties each, while each side scored only one try – Neil De Kock for Sarries in the first half and Ed Slater for  Leicester after the break.

Leicester are 14-1 to top the league table but are now 3-1 second favourites behind 11-8 champions Sarries in Ladbrokes’ Grand Final market.

Quins are 10-3 with third-placed Northampton at 9-2 while Gloucester, at 33-1, are the shortest-priced team outside the current play-off places.

Leinster are 1-4 favourites for the Pro12 regular season spoils after making it 12 league wins on the spin last Friday to hold a 10-point lead over Ospreys, with holders Munster a further four points back in third (both 7-1 for top play-off spot ranking).

But the current Heineken Cup kings are evens to make it third-time lucky in the Grand Final with the Red Army at 11-4 for back-to-back triumphs and the inaugural champions Ospreys at 9-2.

Cardiff are 14-1 after the Blues beat Ulster on Friday to take their fifth spot while fourth-placed Glasgow are 28-1 for glory.

Seventh-placed Scarlets are 30-1 with Paddy Power for Grand Final success and Ulster are 33-1 shots.

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