Leicester Tigers Development XV suffered a third defeat in four rounds of this season's Aviva 'A' League campaign at Newcastle Falcons on Monday evening.
Full-back Tommy Bell had given the Tigers a 15th-minute lead with a penalty before the home side claimed the first of four penalties as rain fell throughout at Kingston Park.
George Tresidder captained a Tigers team which included Bell, Christian Loamanu and Jack Roberts. Hooker Michael van Vuuren continued in the front row after making his debut at Northampton Wanderers in the week before Christmas and there was a first ‘A’ League start for back-rower Fred Tuilagi who also picked up a yellow card.
The Falcons teams included former Tigers trio Andy Goode, Calum Green and Rob Hawkins.
The first half produced a good even contest in very testing conditions on Kingston Park’s artificial surface.
Bell gave Tigers a three-point lead with a penalty after quarter of an hour, only for Falcons to reply with a try from Ben Harris, converted by Goode in his last action before being replaced.
They were the only points of the half, but Falcons, with rain hammering even harder in the second period, grabbed quickfire scores from prop Santiago Socino and wing Giamba Venditti in the opening minutes after the restart to stretch out in front.
Tigers still created opportunities but the Falcons defence stood firm and then grabbed a bonus-point score from skipper Richard Mayhew midway through the half to stretch the advantage to 24-3.
Full-back Tommy Bell had given the Tigers a 15th-minute lead with a penalty before the home side claimed the first of four penalties as rain fell throughout at Kingston Park.
George Tresidder captained a Tigers team which included Bell, Christian Loamanu and Jack Roberts. Hooker Michael van Vuuren continued in the front row after making his debut at Northampton Wanderers in the week before Christmas and there was a first ‘A’ League start for back-rower Fred Tuilagi who also picked up a yellow card.
The Falcons teams included former Tigers trio Andy Goode, Calum Green and Rob Hawkins.
The first half produced a good even contest in very testing conditions on Kingston Park’s artificial surface.
Bell gave Tigers a three-point lead with a penalty after quarter of an hour, only for Falcons to reply with a try from Ben Harris, converted by Goode in his last action before being replaced.
They were the only points of the half, but Falcons, with rain hammering even harder in the second period, grabbed quickfire scores from prop Santiago Socino and wing Giamba Venditti in the opening minutes after the restart to stretch out in front.
Tigers still created opportunities but the Falcons defence stood firm and then grabbed a bonus-point score from skipper Richard Mayhew midway through the half to stretch the advantage to 24-3.
