Falcons replied through two Rob Miller penalties either side of the break in what was Tigers' first home game of the season.

Tigers retained the same backline that started at Harlequins but made four changes in the forwards, with Mefin Davies, Ben Kay, Craig Newby and Brett Deacon given starting roles.

Newcastle were forced into a late change before kick-off with fly-half Jimmy Gopperth dropping out to be replaced by Rob Miller, who stepped up from the bench. Tom Catterick took his place among the replacements.

Tigers ran out to a deafening reception from a sold-out Welford Road with the Caterpillar Stand forming an impressive back drop to proceedings.

They put the visiting team under early pressure and were rewarded with a penalty for offside that Staunton slotted from in front of the posts.

The lead was cancelled out by Miller's sixth-minute penalty as Newcastle came away from their first period of pressure with their first points.

It was a scrappy start to the game with both sides knocking on a couple of times each in the opening 10 minutes.

Tigers centre Anthony Allen produced a brilliant tackle midway through the half to stop a threatening Newcastle break. Filipo Levi and Miller combined as the visitors broke from deep and the Newcastle fly-half looked to have broken clear on the right before Allen halted him on the 22 and then won possession off the floor.

It sparked Tigers into life. Johne Murphy found a half gap in the Newcastle defence but his pass failed to go to hand as he tried to force the issue. Ben Kay then surged forwards and from his thrust Tigers were awarded a penalty that Staunton knocked over to put Tigers 6-3 ahead.

Moments later Staunton was on target with his third penalty to stretch the lead to 9-3.

Tigers came close to their first try of the game with three minutes of the half remaining when the ball was spun to the left and Geordan Murphy combined with namesake Johne, but the Newcastle defence slammed shut five metres from the line.
Newcastle made two changes to their front row at the break with Micky Ward replacing captain Carl Hayman at tighthead and Matt Thompson taking over from hooker Rob Vickers.

Tigers began the second half positively and drives by Brett Deacon and Johne Murphy took them up to the Falcons line. However, they were unable to add the finish as Newcastle's rush defence knocked-on with Tigers spinning the ball in a bid to find room through their backs. From the resulting scrum Tigers were awarded a penalty but Staunton pushed his kick wide to the left.

Instead it was Falcons who scored the first points of the half through Miller's penalty to close the gap to 12-6.

Tigers thought they had scored the opening try when Tom Croft touched down to finish off good work by the backs, however, referee Andrew Small called play back after he got in the way of the Newcastle defence.

Tigers piled on the pressure at the scrum and looked to have crossed through Staunton, but the television match official ruled the fly-half knocked on as he grounded the ball.

The momentum was with Tigers and, roared on by the capacity crowd, stretched their lead to 15-6 with Staunton's fifth penalty.

Croft's pick up and go then opened a hole in midfield but he was too far ahead of the support and lost possession in Alex Tait's tackle.

Newcastle threatened as the game moved into its final 10 minutes when they won loose ball at the back of a Tigers scrum but Aaron Mauger was alert to Hall Charlton's run. Geoff Parling claimed possession at the breakdown and hacked ahead with Tait winning the foot race ahead of Croft to clear for Newcastle.