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Newcastle continued their fantastic home form with a 26-13 triumph against Leicester Tigers on Friday evening
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Tries from Simon Hammersley and Adam Powell combined with 10 points from Andy Goode gave the Falcons a 20-9 lead at the break
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The Tigers fought back with a try from Laurence Pearce, but they left the North East with nothing
Newcastle Falcons lifted themselves off the bottom of the Aviva Premiership in impressive fashion as they overcame Leicester Tigers at Kingston Park on Friday night.
The Tynesiders, fresh off a heartbreaking loss away at Wasps last weekend, were particularly fantastic in the first half as they raced to a 20-9 lead at half-time.
Two fabulous team tries dotted down by Simon Hammersley, and Adam Powell, combined with 10 points from fly-half Andy Goode completed the hosts opening 40 tally with Freddie Burns knocking over a trio of penalties for the visitors, which had initially saw Leicester lead 6-0.
Veteran Goode edged Newcastle further ahead with another penalty after the restart before Leicester finally showed some signs of life in the last quarter of the match. However, an unconverted score from Laurence Pearce wasn’t enough as the Tigers left the North East empty handed.
Replacement number 10 Craig Willis finished the scoring for the hosts with last kick of the game, which ensured the Tynesiders have now won five back-to-back home games in all competitions, which will give them confidence ahead of their clash against Northampton in the North East next Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Tigers, who were beaten by Sale Sharks last weekend, have now lost back-to-back Aviva Premiership matches for the first time this season and things get no easier for them next time out when they face Harlequins on their travels.
MATCH ACTION
Leicester got off to the best possible start with fly-half Freddie Burns edging the visitors in front from the tee after just three minutes before doubling their advantage after a quarter of an hour, 0-6.
The Falcons though responded by opening the try-scoring just two minutes later when fullback Hammersley finished off a wonderful free-flowing move from the hosts by diving over in the right corner. Goode then put the Tynesiders in front as he added the extras confidently to give the hosts a slender one-point lead.
Burns, though, with his third successful penalty of the night, edged Leicester back in front after 22 minutes.
The lead only lasted five minutes before Goode knocked over a pair of penalties to recapture the hosts advantage, 13-9.
The veteran number 10 then knocked over another penalty soon after to put Newcastle further ahead but the hosts weren’t done as Powell, with a shrug of a shoulder brushed off former Falcon Matthew Tait to dive over to the left of the posts.
Goode then completed the first halves scoring with his conversion, 20-9.
Newcastle started the second half as they ended the first, on top, and although Goode saw one penalty attempt fall short, he soon followed it up with a successful strike to put the hosts 14-points clear.
The Tigers rallied and eventually opened their try-scoring for the night with 15 minutes to go when Pearce evaded Goode attempted tackle to cross the whitewash in the corner. Burns though could not add the extra two points, 23-14.
Leicester continued to threaten late on, but the Falcons brick wall-like defence stood strong before Willis completed an outstanding showing from the hosts by knocking over another three points with the last touch of the game.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Newcastle: Nili Latu
Newcastle: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Alex Tait, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Adam Powell, 11 Marcus Watson, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Michael Young, 8 Ally Hogg, 7 Nili Latu, 6 Will Welch (c), 5 Sean Robinson, 4 Mark Wilson, 3 Taione Vea, 2 Scott Lawson, 1 Bobby Vickers
Replacements: 16 George McGuigan, 17 Alex Rogers, 18 Kensuke Hatakeyama, 19 Mouritz Botha, 20 Alesana Tuilagi, 21 Sonatane Takulua, 22 Craig Willis, 23 Juan Pablo Socino
Leicester: 15 Telusa Veainu, 14 Peter Betham, 13 Mathew Tait (c), 12 Matt Smith, 11 Gonzalo Camacho, 10 Freddie Burns, 9 Sam Harrison, 8 Jordan Crane, 7 Lachlan McCaffrey, 6 Tom Croft, 5 Graham Kitchener, 4 Mike Fitzgerald, 3 Fraser Balmain, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Marcos Ayerza
Replacements: 16 Harry Thacker, 17 Logovi’i Mulipola, 18 Greg Bateman, 19 Sebastian De Chaves, 20 Laurence Pearce, 21 Jono Kitto, 22 Oli Bryant, 23 Jack Roberts
Date: Friday, February 12
Venue: Kingston Park
Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
Referee: Greg Garner
Assistant Referees: Ashley Rowden, Kelvin Stewart
TMO: David Sainsbury