Laurence Pearce's second-half try was not enough for Leicester Tigers as they slipped to a 26-14 defeat to Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park.
Freddie Burns had kicked Tigers into a 6-0 lead in Friday evening’s Aviva Premiership clash but they were pegged back by tries for Simon Hammersley and Adam Powell, and the boot of Andy Goode, as the Falcons led 20-9 at the break.
Goode’s penalty gave the Falcons a 14-point cushion before Pearce struck with 15 minutes remaining to give Tigers a lifeline.
But they were unable to turn long periods of second-half possession into points as they returned to the East Midlands without a match point.
International trio Marcos Ayerza, Tom Croft and Telusa Veainu returned to the Tigers starting line-up. Ayerza came in for Logovi’i Mulipola, who moved to the bench. Tom Croft reclaimed his place in the back row with Mike Fitzgerald moving into the second row as a replacement for the suspended Dom Barrow. Veainu came in for Tommy Bell at full-back.
On the bench, Oli Bryant was included in an Aviva Premiership squad for the first time.
Newcastle included former Tigers pair Michael Young and Andy Goode at half-back.
Tigers began well, Freddie Burns’s kick-off putting Marcus Watson under pressure and allowing Peter Betham to bundle him into touch.
Betham was involved again moments later, pinning Andy Goode after he fumbled a kick and winning the penalty. Burns landed his kick from wide on the right to give Tigers a 3-0 lead.
Tigers then soaked up a spell of pressure on their 22 where Smith overturned possession and kicked long for Betham to chase. However, Watson mopped up and found touch on halfway.
Adam Powell’s big hit on Smith overturned possession for Newcastle before Tigers were pinged a phase later but Goode was wide with his kick.
Tom Croft did well to chase Burns’s kick into the Falcons 22 and tackle Hammersley into touch. From the lineout, Burns chipped for Betham to chase but Young was back to call the mark.
Tigers came again through Veainu’s angled run up to the 22. Young strayed offside giving Burns a simple penalty in front of the posts to double Leicester’s lead.
Falcons hit back to score from their first real attack of the game. Hammersley made inroads down the right before Watson made further yards. Hammersley rejoined the attack to angle his run over on the right. Goode’s conversion gave Newcastle a 7-6 lead after 18 minutes.
The lead lasted three minutes before Mathew Tait’s run earned a penalty for holding on and Burns landed the touchline kick to put Leicester 9-6 ahead.
Burns was alert to Young’s inside pass that sent Nili Latu into the Leicester 22, making the tackle and ripping the ball.
But Tigers were unable to clear their 22 and Young drew a penalty from Ayerza as the Tigers prop tried to roll from a tackle allowing Goode to restore Newcastle’s one-point lead.
Goode extended the lead with another three-pointer after Tigers were ruled to have infringed at a lineout drive.
Falcons were on top at this stage and the hosts had Tigers under huge pressure 5m from their line. And with the advantage of an offside penalty centre Adam Powell evaded the Tigers defence to score on the left. Goode’s extras gave Newcastle a 20-9 lead at the break.
There were no changes at the break.
There was no let-up in the pace at the start of the second period with Hammersley a constant therat from full-back for the Falcons, while Veainu was fingertips away from breaking through on halfway with the Newcastle defence scattered.
Goode missed a chance to extend Newcastle’s lead when he missed a lineout penalty from the left. He had another penalty from a similar position when Young’s pass hit the retreating Graham Kitchener, and landed his kick to move Falcons 14 points ahead.
Tigers introduced Laurence Pearce, Harry Thacker and Jack Roberts. And they put together a sustained period of possession to work their way from their own territory up to the Falcons 22. But referee Garner ruled Roberts knocked on as he tried to move the ball away from a ruck to bring the attack to an end.
Tigers were coming back into the game and Burns’s Crossfield kick was superbly collected by Croft, but he was tackled by last-man Adam Powell. Tigers kept the ball alive to threaten on the right flank but Tait knocked-on in the tackle.
Referee Garner checked his TMO over the tackle on Croft and ruled he was taken out in the air and came back for the penalty. Tigers won another penalty as Falcons infringed at the lineout, but they were unable to make the position count at the second attempt as Falcons came through to smother the ball.
Tigers were on top as the rain started to come down but they needed to turn their possession and territory into points. Eventually they did create the chance, Camacho, who was bright throughout the second half, carved an opening and Pearce used Croft’s run on his outside as a dummy line before scooting over on the left. The try went unconverted as Tigers trailed 23-14 with 15 minutes left.
Tigers hammered away at the Newcastle defence as they searched for the points that could bring them a bonus point. But their cause was not helped by a knock for Burns, who needed treatment before being replaced by debutant Bryant.
Instead, Tigers were pinged at three successive lineouts, which allowed Falcons to take play from deep in their 22 into the Leicester A zone.
And Craig Willis punished their indiscipline by landing a penalty with the last kick of the game to secure Falcons' first win against the Tigers in 12 games stretching back to March 2009.
Freddie Burns had kicked Tigers into a 6-0 lead in Friday evening’s Aviva Premiership clash but they were pegged back by tries for Simon Hammersley and Adam Powell, and the boot of Andy Goode, as the Falcons led 20-9 at the break.
Goode’s penalty gave the Falcons a 14-point cushion before Pearce struck with 15 minutes remaining to give Tigers a lifeline.
But they were unable to turn long periods of second-half possession into points as they returned to the East Midlands without a match point.
International trio Marcos Ayerza, Tom Croft and Telusa Veainu returned to the Tigers starting line-up. Ayerza came in for Logovi’i Mulipola, who moved to the bench. Tom Croft reclaimed his place in the back row with Mike Fitzgerald moving into the second row as a replacement for the suspended Dom Barrow. Veainu came in for Tommy Bell at full-back.
On the bench, Oli Bryant was included in an Aviva Premiership squad for the first time.
Newcastle included former Tigers pair Michael Young and Andy Goode at half-back.
Tigers began well, Freddie Burns’s kick-off putting Marcus Watson under pressure and allowing Peter Betham to bundle him into touch.
Betham was involved again moments later, pinning Andy Goode after he fumbled a kick and winning the penalty. Burns landed his kick from wide on the right to give Tigers a 3-0 lead.
Tigers then soaked up a spell of pressure on their 22 where Smith overturned possession and kicked long for Betham to chase. However, Watson mopped up and found touch on halfway.
Adam Powell’s big hit on Smith overturned possession for Newcastle before Tigers were pinged a phase later but Goode was wide with his kick.
Tom Croft did well to chase Burns’s kick into the Falcons 22 and tackle Hammersley into touch. From the lineout, Burns chipped for Betham to chase but Young was back to call the mark.
Tigers came again through Veainu’s angled run up to the 22. Young strayed offside giving Burns a simple penalty in front of the posts to double Leicester’s lead.
Falcons hit back to score from their first real attack of the game. Hammersley made inroads down the right before Watson made further yards. Hammersley rejoined the attack to angle his run over on the right. Goode’s conversion gave Newcastle a 7-6 lead after 18 minutes.
The lead lasted three minutes before Mathew Tait’s run earned a penalty for holding on and Burns landed the touchline kick to put Leicester 9-6 ahead.
Burns was alert to Young’s inside pass that sent Nili Latu into the Leicester 22, making the tackle and ripping the ball.
But Tigers were unable to clear their 22 and Young drew a penalty from Ayerza as the Tigers prop tried to roll from a tackle allowing Goode to restore Newcastle’s one-point lead.
Goode extended the lead with another three-pointer after Tigers were ruled to have infringed at a lineout drive.
Falcons were on top at this stage and the hosts had Tigers under huge pressure 5m from their line. And with the advantage of an offside penalty centre Adam Powell evaded the Tigers defence to score on the left. Goode’s extras gave Newcastle a 20-9 lead at the break.
There were no changes at the break.
There was no let-up in the pace at the start of the second period with Hammersley a constant therat from full-back for the Falcons, while Veainu was fingertips away from breaking through on halfway with the Newcastle defence scattered.
Goode missed a chance to extend Newcastle’s lead when he missed a lineout penalty from the left. He had another penalty from a similar position when Young’s pass hit the retreating Graham Kitchener, and landed his kick to move Falcons 14 points ahead.
Tigers introduced Laurence Pearce, Harry Thacker and Jack Roberts. And they put together a sustained period of possession to work their way from their own territory up to the Falcons 22. But referee Garner ruled Roberts knocked on as he tried to move the ball away from a ruck to bring the attack to an end.
Tigers were coming back into the game and Burns’s Crossfield kick was superbly collected by Croft, but he was tackled by last-man Adam Powell. Tigers kept the ball alive to threaten on the right flank but Tait knocked-on in the tackle.
Referee Garner checked his TMO over the tackle on Croft and ruled he was taken out in the air and came back for the penalty. Tigers won another penalty as Falcons infringed at the lineout, but they were unable to make the position count at the second attempt as Falcons came through to smother the ball.
Tigers were on top as the rain started to come down but they needed to turn their possession and territory into points. Eventually they did create the chance, Camacho, who was bright throughout the second half, carved an opening and Pearce used Croft’s run on his outside as a dummy line before scooting over on the left. The try went unconverted as Tigers trailed 23-14 with 15 minutes left.
Tigers hammered away at the Newcastle defence as they searched for the points that could bring them a bonus point. But their cause was not helped by a knock for Burns, who needed treatment before being replaced by debutant Bryant.
Instead, Tigers were pinged at three successive lineouts, which allowed Falcons to take play from deep in their 22 into the Leicester A zone.
And Craig Willis punished their indiscipline by landing a penalty with the last kick of the game to secure Falcons' first win against the Tigers in 12 games stretching back to March 2009.
