Sam Vesty stuck a penalty with the last kick of the game to give Guinness Premiership leaders Leicester Tigers a 16-13 win over Saracens at Vicarage Road this afternoon.

The Men in Black made a superb start and scored through Francisco Leonelli early on but the visitors came back into the contest. Just as the match was heading for a draw, Vesty held his nerve to give the Tigers their second successive win, after beating Bath last week, in the dying seconds.

It leaves Sarries’ hopes of finishing in the top seven in tatters and means they will need to win the European Challenge Cup to qualify for the Heineken Cup next season.

Kris Chesney was selected to make his final appearance at Vicarage Road for the Men in Black. Steve Borthwick was missing with a knock which allowed Hugh Vyvyan to return to the side. Glen Jackson skippered the team in the absence of Borthwick. Argentine Leonelli made a rare start at outside centre in place of Adam Powell.

Saracens made a brilliant start to the game and their early pressure was rewarded with the first try in the fourth minute. A home lineout near the five-metre line found Vyvyan and he layed the ball off to Leonelli for an easy score inside the posts. Jackson’s simple conversion handed the hosts a 7-0 lead over the Premiership leaders.

But the visitors showed their resolve by responding with a try of their own within five minutes. The Tigers built up pressure in the Sarries half and New Zealander Scott Hamilton peeled the ball off from a ruck and evaded a challenge to touch the ball down. Vesty’s conversion attempt missed the target.

Leicester conceded a penalty midway through the half but Jackson fired his straightforward kick wide of the post. He was handed a quick opportunity to redeem himself when they were given another penalty. The Kiwi fly half found his range and extended their narrow lead.

The Men in Black conceded their first penalty three minutes before half-time and Vesty easily despatched the kick to bring Leicester within two points at the break.

The Tigers failed to take advantage of a penalty at the start of the second half as Vesty sent his effort wide. Cobus Visagie was brought on for Tom Mercey, ten minutes after the restart, in his last home game before retiring.

Leicester took the lead for the first time in the match after 57 minutes when Craig Newy set up pacy centre Ayoola Erinle who dived over in the left corner. Vesty dragged his conversion wide as the score remained 13-10 to the visitors.

Saracens were given a chance to level the match 15 minutes from time from a penalty and Jackson’s ugly effort squirmed agonisingly over the bar by the narrowest of margins. Leonelli was taken off for Andy Farrell as the co-captain also made his final appearance on the field at Vicarage Road before turning his hand to coaching.

Chesney was given a standing ovation by the Fez Heads as he was replaced by Justin Melck ten minutes from time. With only eight minutes remaining, Saracens wasted a glorious chance to nick the win when Jackson fired a close range penalty against the post.

The Tigers were handed a penalty in the final minute and Vesty punished Saracens by giving them a last-ditch victory.

Saracens: Goode, Wyles, Leonelli (Farrell, 65), Barritt (Cato, 75), Penney, Jackson, De Kock (Marshall, 51); Aguero, Ongaro (Cairns, 62), Mercey (Visagie, 50), Vyvyan, Chesney (Melck, 70), Jack, Seymour (Barrell, 49), Melck (Ryder, 65)

Leicester Tigers: Murphy, Hamilton, Erinle (Rabeni, 62), Hipkiss, Murphy, Vesty, Ellis (Youngs, 51); Ayerza, Chuter (Kayser, 57), Castrogiovanni (Cole, 62), Croft, Kay, Newy, Woods, Crane Scoring: 5-0, 7-0, 7-5, 10-5, 10-8 HT 10-13, 13-13, 13-16

Referee: David Rose

Attendance: 11,275