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Report | Tigers win final game of pre-season

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Harry Potter scored a hat-trick of tries as Leicester Tigers recorded a 42-28 victory over Newcastle Falcons in a pre-season fixture at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Friday evening.

Potter scored twice in the opening quarter of the game and Charlie Clare added a third as Tigers led 21-7 at half-time.

At the beginning of the Bank Holiday weekend, both head coaches named extended squads and used the second period to spread gametime through their ranks with the new Gallagher Premiership season now just two weeks away.

Anthony Watson, Jimmy Gopperth and James Cronin were among the Tigers newcomers to sample running out at their new home stadium, with Tom Horton, Joe Taufute’e and Phil Cokanasiga joining the action after the break.

Potter completed his hat-trick at the start of the second half, with Taufete’e and Sean Jansen adding further scores in the final run-put before the start of the new season.

After Newcastle kicked off towards the Beehive Money Stand, they enjoyed some decent possession but could not progress further than the 22 with Tigers tackling quickly until eventually turning over ball and, just moments later, Steve Borthwick’s men were on the scoresheet.

Potter recovered from an early tumble when he was impeded in collecting a high ball which led to a yellow card for Vereimi Qorowale to get the first points on the board after five minutes, taking a long pass on the left wing and then winning the race to his chip kick to dot down. Freddie Burns added the conversion for a 7-0 lead.

A knock-on from the restart gave Falcons put-in ball just 10 metres out from the Tigers tryline but the set-piece brought a penalty which Burns kicked back up to halfway.

Potter led the kickchase to a diagonal prod from Burns to the left-hand corner and was rewarded with a penalty but, when play was spread to the opposite flank, Chris Ashton was bundled into touch just five metres out.

Matt Scott showed pace and composure as he covered a dangerous kick down the Falcons right and then dodged two tacklers to allow Tigers to re-set and clear.

Potter was back on the scoresheet on 21 minutes as he collected a crosskick on the left just seconds after a second yellow card had been shown to Qorowale as he tackled Ashton close to the line on the opposite wing.

Falcons lost attacking scrum possession and then missed a lineout in the corner but, when Eli Snyman stole a lineout at the opposite end, a chip from Ben Youngs over last man Logovi’i Mulipola somehow slipped from Ashton’s reach.

George Martin showed strength and good footwork to lead the next attack, but Tigers lost ball 15 metres out and Falcons were able to clear the danger.

The home defence was tested with a break by Gary Graham up the middle and, when Falcons retained ball, it was the back-rower who broke a final tackle to score next to the posts. The conversion from Brett Connon made it 14-7 on 35 minutes.

But Martin’s lineout catch set up position for a third Tigers try shortly before half-time, with Falcons backtracking quickly as Clare touched down and Burns added a third conversion for a 21-7 lead.

England Under-20s cap Jed Walsh was added to the Tigers backline for the start of the second period, while Falcons changed their entire line-up in their first outing of pre-season.

The opening points came with a hat-trick score for Potter in the left-hand corner after some crisp work in attack and Burns added the conversion from the touchline as Tigers sent on five replacements from the bench including Taufete’e.

Falcons responded with a try from Iwan Stephens, winning the chase to ball on the left, with new fly-half Josh Thomas adding the extras as Borthwick sent on replacements including summer signing Cokanasiga.

Lewis Chessum’s first involvement was stealing lineout ball and two direct carries from Kini Murimurivalu got Tigers going forward again before Hosea Saumaki was tackled into touch in the corner.

When wing Adam Radwan was met with a double tackle on the tryline, Tigers continued to defend strongly until Falcons were held up in possession.

But straight from the drop-out, Falcons returned at pace, with Stephens releasing Radwan to score on the right and Thomas was on target with the extras to make it 28-21 with 10 minutes still to play.

A break from Cokansiga was appreciated by the sizeable crowd and ended with a fifth try, with Taufete’e forcing his way over to the left of the posts and Gopperth added the conversion.

But Falcons soon celebrated another try of their own, scrum-half Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti wriggling out of contact to run clear. Thomas added the extras to put just seven points between the teams entering the closing couple of minutes.

Horton replaced Taufete’e in the middle of the front row and was immediately on the ball on the left but Falcons stood up to the lineout drive.

They were pinned inside their own 22, though, and the game ended with Sean Jansen making the final push from a lineout drive for another Tigers try, which Gopperth converted from the right touchline.

Match Details

HT ScoreHalf Time Score

LEI 21-7 NEW

FT ScoreFull Time Score

LEI 42-28 NEW

Attendance

Not available

Referee

Not available

Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers
42

Full Time

Newcastle Falcons
Newcastle Falcons
28
Leicester Tigers
T
C
T
C
T
C
T
C
T
C
T
C
KOHTFT
Newcastle Falcons
T
C
T
C
T
C
T
C

Commentary

FINAL WHISTLE

Tigers end the pre-season programme with a victory over Newcastle Falcons.

Jimmy Gopperth lands the conversion kick from the touchline with the final action of the evening.

Lineout drive ends with a try for Sean Jansen in the ri9ght-hand corner.

Josh Thomas kicks the conversion to put just seven points between the teams.

Break from 30 metres ends in a try for Falcons scrum-half Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti.

Jimmy Gopperth takes over kicking duties and adds the conversion.

A try for replacement hooker Joe Taufete'e, forcing his way over close to the posts for Tigers..

Thomas adds the conversion for Falcons.

Falcons on the scoresheet again, this time Stephens puts Adam Radwan through to score in the right-hand corner.

Replacement fly-half Josh Thomas adds the conversion.

Falcons full-back Iwan Stephens wins the race to the ball on the left to score. 

Freddie Burns makes sure with the conversion.

HARRY POTTER is in for a third try.

HALF TIME

Three tries to one in the first half, Tigers lead 21-7.

Freddie Burns knocks over the conversion for a 21-7 lead.

Charlie Clare is over the line as the Tigers lineout drive brings a third try.

Brett Connon adds the conversion for the visitors.

Gary Graham breaks a tackle and scores the opening points for Falcons.

Burns adds a conversion as Tigers lead 14-0.

POTTER scores again, collecting a crosskick to score on the left.

Second yellow card for Qorowale after a tackle on Chris Ashton.

Freddie Burns adds the kick from the left.

HARRY POTTER chips ahead and wins the race to the ball for the opening score.

Vereimi Qorowale sin-binned as Harry Potter takes a tumble claiming high ball.

KICK-OFF


Team News | Tigers side to play Falcons on Friday

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Steve Borthwick has named the Leicester Tigers matchday squad for the pre-season fixture against Newcastle Falcons at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

Included in the squad are six players - Chris Ashton, Lewis Chessum, Tom Horton, Hosea Saumaki, Jed Walsh and Richard Wigglesworth - who will make their first appearance of the pre-season period, with 30 players having featured in last Friday’s game away to Jersey Reds.

Horton and Walsh are in line for their first club appearance, while a further five players – Anthony Watson, Jimmy Gopperth, James Cronin, Joe Taufete’e and Phil Cokanasiga – will make their first appearance at Mattioli Woods Welford Road for Leicester Tigers.

Hanro Liebenberg leads the side for the second time, after the win over Jersey, since being appointed club captain, with Dan Cole and Ben Youngs as vice-captains for the first home outing of 2022/23.

Tigers skipper Liebenberg starts at openside flanker, joining George Martin and Sean Jansen in the back row.

Charlie Clare is the starting hooker with Cronin and Cole the props.

Harry Wells and Eli Snyman are the starting second row for a second successive match after pairing up in Jersey.

Horton, Taufete’e, James Whitcombe, Francois van Wyk, Will Hurd and Nephi Leatigaga are the replacement front-rowers, with Finn Carnduff, Chessum and Cameron Henderson the fellow forwards on the Leicester bench.

Freddie Burns and Youngs are the starting half-backs, while Gopperth and Matt Scott are partnered in the midfield for the first time.

In the back-three, Ashton makes his first appearance of the summer on one wing, with Harry Potter on the other and Watson starts at full-back.

Wigglesworth, Bryce Hegarty, Cokanasiga, Kini Murimurivalu, Nemani Nadolo, Saumaki and Walsh are the backs included among the Tigers replacements.

STARTING XV:
15 Anthony Watson
14 Chris Ashton
13 Matt Scott
12 Jimmy Gopperth
11 Harry Potter
10 Freddie Burns
9 Ben Youngs (vc)
1 James Cronin
2 Charlie Clare
3 Dan Cole (vc)
4 Harry Wells
5 Eli Snyman
6 George Martin
7 Hanro Liebenberg (c)
8 Sean Jansen

REPLACEMENTS: Tom Horton, Joe Taufete’e, James Whitcombe, Francois van Wyk, Will Hurd, Nephi Leatigaga, Finn Carnduff, Lewis Chessum, Cameron Henderson; Sam Edwards, Richard Wigglesworth, Bryce Hegarty, Phil Cokanasiga, Kini Murimurivalu, Nemani Nadolo, Hosea Saumaki, Jed Walsh

Newcastle XV: 15 Alex Tait, 14 Vereimi Qorowale, 13 Ben Stevenson, 12 Pete Lucock, 11 Zach Kerr, 10 Brett Connon, 9 Michael Young; 1 Logovi’i Mulipola, 2 Charlie Maddison, 3 Mark Tampin, 4 George Merrick, 5 Josh Peters, 6 Gary Graham, 7 Will Welch (c), 8 Tom Marshall

Replacements: 1 Phil Brantingham, 2 George McGuigan, 3 Conor Kenny, 4 Matthew Dalton, 5 Sebastian de Chaves, 6 Matt Deehan, 7 Marcus Tiffen, 8 Carl Fearns, 9 Josh Barton, 9 Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti, 10 Josh Thomas, 11 Nathan Earle, 12 Ewan Greenlaw, 13 George Wacokecoke, 14 Adam Radwan, 15 Iwan Stephens

Supporters can stream the pre-season fixture for FREE on LTTV. To register CLICK HERE and have the livestream link delivered to your Inbox ahead of the game.

Form Guide
Form
LWWLL
Last Match
Lost to Gloucester Rugby 25-27
Past Meeting
Won 47-3
Form
Last Match
Past Meeting
Form
LLLLL
Last Match
Lost to Exeter Chiefs 16-25
Past Meeting
Lost 3-47

Matchday Live

Leicester Tigers42
Leicester Tigers
Newcastle Falcons28
Newcastle Falcons
Full Time