Jeremy Staunton knocked over his fourth penalty with the last kick of the first-half to give Leicester Tigers a 12-3 lead over Newcastle Falcons at half-time of today's Guinness Premiership game.

A league record 24,000 fans were at Welford Road for Tigers’ first home game of the season and their first in front of the new Caterpillar Stand.

Staunton gave Tigers an early lead, which was cancelled out by Newcastle fly-half Rob Miller inside the first 10 minutes.

Tigers fly-half Staunton then added three further penalties in a scrappy first period to put Tigers ahead at the break.

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.