Leicester Tigers were beaten 21-14 by Newcastle Falcons in their opening pool game in the Premiership Sevens at Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton, on Friday evening.
Geordan Murphy’s men had to wait until 7:45pm and the seventh game of the evening to get their campaign under way, and led twice before Falcons pegged them back and then grabbed the decisive try.
Captained by scrum-half Harry Simmons and wearing the new alternate white and purple kit for the first time, Tigers broke the deadlock with an early score for Mike Adlard after linking well with summer signing Sam Aspland-Robinson to run in under the posts. George Worth added the kick.
Falcons had already beaten Saracens 26-17 in their opening game and levelled the scores in their second game with a try from Ben Stevenson, converted by James Elliott midway through the opening period.
A superb restart catch from Jonah Holmes gave Tigers an immediate opportunity to respond and Aspland-Robinson was again involved in attack before Holmes capitalised on turnover ball at a scrum to run in on the left. Worth again supplied the extras to make it 14-7.
Adlard looked like he’d found the space to add a third score but Falcons wing Adam Radwan raced back to block his progress as the first half came to a close with Tigers seven points in front.
Radwan then provided the first points after the restart and kicked the conversion to level the scores again at 14-14.
Newcastle’s Glen Young was then held up over the tryline but it was only a temporary reprieve for Tigers as Cameron Nordii-Kelemeti found a gap in front of the posts after a lengthy period of Falcons possession to the North-Easterners in front for the first time as they made it two wins from two games.
Results:
Sale Sharks 26 Bristol Bears 12
Bath 29 Worcester Warriors 12
Newcastle Falcons 26 Saracens 17
Northampton Saints 22 Gloucester Rugby 20
Harlequins 41 Bristol Bears 12
Exeter Chiefs 28 Worcester Warriors 14
Newcastle Falcons 21 Leicester Tigers 14
Commentary
HALF TIME