AMO IS FIRING FOR LEICESTER LEICESTER; Argentine scuppers Saints with super try.

Byline: MARTYN BLAIR

A SUPER solo try by Lucas Amorosino and a first in Tigers colours for Anthony Allen gave Leicester victory over Midland rivals Northampton.

Amorosino sprinted 80m to score a thrilling breakaway midway through the first-half, and Allen -who had set the Argentina international up for his score - grabbed one of his own with four minutes remaining to ensure victory.

Lock Richard Blaze missed the match with a foot injury but Leicester head coach Richard Cockerill said he expected him to report for training with England today after being named in a 32-strong squad for Saturday's game against Australia.

Cockerill also declined to discuss reports that former Australia winger Lote Tuqiri was on his way toWelford Road.

Reports in the Australian press suggess ted Tuqiri, whose central contract was cancelled by his country's rugby union in July for an alleged breach of a code of conduct, had already signed for Leicester.

But Cockerill said: "I have no comment to make. As far as I am aware it is a nonstory for me. We have been linked with him along with London Irish, Toulon and everybody else.

"If there are stories saying he has signed then I'm delighted, but I haven't seen him yet."

On Blaze's injury, Cockerill said: "His foot is a bit of an unknown, it gets a bit sore and he has to look after it.

"We want Richard to play for England and to play for us."

Blaze's withdrawal handed an unexpected debut to academy lock Calum Green and left Leicester without 19 players, six of whom were retained by England.

But their strength in depth saw them maintain their 13-month unbeaten home record.

Former Ireland fly-half Jeremy Staunton kicked 19 points, including conversions of the tries from Amorosino and Allen, which broke Northampton's resistance.

Northampton scored two excellent first-half tries, both stemming from menacing runs from Bruce Reihana, but lacked their familiar cutting edge without England pair Ben Foden and Shane Geraghty and managed only a secondhalf penalty from Stephen Myler.

Leicester took time to settle and were seven points down after five minutes when they allowed Reihana to launch a counter-attack, supported by Myler and Chris Ashton, which gave lock Christian Day a clear run to the line.

Scorched Myler converted but Staunton settled Leicester with two well-struck penalties before Argentina international wing Amorosino scorched over from long range after Allen intercepted a sloppy pass from Myler.

Staunton's conversion was followed by two long-range penalties, with a glaring missed penalty from Myler sandwiched in between.

But Northampton finished the half as they started it with Reihana clattering down the right wing and Ashton supplying the finish.

Instead of growing in confidence, Northampton were hesitant at the second half and a fumble from Myler under a high ball from Hamilton allowed Leicester to build the pressure.

Puncheswere exchangedwhen the two packswent down for a scrum and referee David Pearson spoke to the captains.

Northampton flanker Neil Bestwas fortunate to escape with a lecture from the referee after a high tackle on Martin Castrogiovanni, but that allowed Staunton to slot his fifth penalty.

The lead was reduced to seven points again when Myler found the target with a penalty and Leicester had a let-off when Northampton scrum-half Lee Dickson had his claim for a try ruled out by the television referee for being in touch before he grounded the ball.

That proved a crucial decision as Allen dashed Northampton's hopes of salvaging a bonus pointwhen he latched onto a stray pass andwent over for the interception try which Staunton gleefully converted.

SCORERS: Leicester - tries: Amorosino, Allen; penalties: Staunton (5); conversions: Staunton (2). Northampton - tries: Day, Ashton; penalties: Myler; conversion: Myler.

CAPTION(S):

WEL PLAYED: Tigers' Lucas Amorosino (right) breaks the tackle of Lee Dickson; and (right) Aaron Mauger is tackled by Saints' Neil Best