Tommy Reffell’s outstanding performance inspired Leicester
Tigers to secure their first win of the season against a resilient new-look
Newcastle Red Bulls side.
Leicester Tigers secured their first win of the Premiership
season with a dogged 24-19 victory over Newcastle Red Bulls at Kingston Park,
surviving a nail-biting finish to hold off the North East side.
Newcastle made a flying start when Obi Ene crossed over after just two minutes, but Leicester quickly settled into the contest.
Samuela Moli powered over before former Newcastle winger Adam Radwan marked his return to Kingston Park with a try. Billy Searle converted both and added a penalty as Leicester took a 17-5 lead into half-time.
Red Bulls responded through George McGuigan, whose
pick-and-go from close range secured the try. Brett Connon added the conversion
to cut the deficit to five points.
The visitors restored their advantage through prop Will
Hurd, who bulldozed over from close range following a five-metre tap-and-go.
Searle was again successful with the conversion.
Red Bulls refused to surrender, with Cam Jordan crossing
from the right-hand side before Zack Henry added the conversion to set up a
grandstand finish.
However, Leicester held firm in the closing stages to secure a much-needed 24-19 win on the road.
Newcastle Red Bulls vs Leicester Tigers scorers
Newcastle Red Bulls: Tries Ene (3), McGuigan (55), Jordan
(73); Conversions: Connon (1), Henry (1)
Leicester Tigers: Tries Moli (11), Radwan (21), Hurd (67);
Conversions Searle (3); Penalties Searle (1)
Player of the match – Tommy Reffell
Reffell was once again the backbone for Leicester, producing a brilliant performance at the breakdown and consistently being there when his side needed him. His work around the ball was crucial throughout, and he proved to be the difference in Tigers securing victory. He was arguably his side’s standout performer, with Leicester potentially struggling to hold on without his influence.
Biggest underperformer - Hoskins Sotutu
Sotutu endured a quiet evening, and with the hype surrounding the number eight, expectations were high for a big performance on his home debut. However, he struggled to gain a foothold in the game and was substituted early in the second half. The youngster still has plenty of time to develop, but this was not the big splash many expected from him this evening.
Player to watch - Obi Ene
On his debut, Ene impressed every time he got his hands on the ball, capping an encouraging performance with a try in the corner. For a debut, it does not get much better than that. The 23-year-old winger looks capable of becoming a fan favourite at Kingston Park if he can build on this promising start and gets more time and space with the ball.
Have your say!
Who was your Player of the Match?
Tommy Reffell
Billy Searle
Aaron Wainwright
Freddie Steward
Other?
Newcastle Red Bulls player ratings
- 15. Harrison Obatoyinbo – 7
- 14. Christian Wade – 7
- 13. Alex Hearle – 6
- 12. Chris Harris – 6
- 11. Obi Ene – 7
- 10. Brett Connon – 6
- 9. James Elliott – 5
- 8. Hoskins Soututu – 6
- 7. Tom Chrisite – 6
- 6. Max Hicks – 6
- 5. Cam Jordan – 7
- 4. Oscar Usher – 6
- 3. Elliot Millar Mills – 5
- 2. George McGuigan – 7
- 1. Pouri Rakete-Stones – 6
Replacements
- 16. Ollie Fletcher – 6
- 17. Adam Brocklebank – 6
- 18. James Harper – 6
- 19. Franco Molina – 6
- 20. Ollie Leatherbarrow – 6
- 21. Sam Graham – 6
- 22. Simon Benitez Cruz – 6
- 23. Zack Henry – 6
Leicester Tigers player ratings
- 15. Freddie Steward – 8
- 14. Adam Radwan – 8
- 13. Solomone Kata – 6
- 12. Orlando Bailey – 6
- 11. Gabriel Hamer-Webb – 7
- 10. Billy Searle – 8
- 9. Jack van Poortvliet – 6
- 8. Olly Cracknell – 6
- 7. Tommy Reffell – 8
- 6. Aaron Wainwright – 7
- 5. Cameron Henderson – 6
- 4. James Thompson – 6
- 3. Joe Heyes – 7
- 2. Samuela Moli – 7
- 1. Mako Vunipola – 6
Replacements
- 16. Corbin Thunder – 6
- 17. Tarek Haffar – 6
- 18. Will Hurd – 7
- 19. Tom Manz – 6
- 20. Joaquin Moro – 6
- 21. Tom Whiteley – 6
- 22. Will Wand – 6
- 23. Ollie Hassell-Collins – 6
5 England Hopefuls who impressed
1. Billy Searle
The fly-half once again put in a solid performance at 10, continuing his impressive form from last season and underlining his importance to Tigers. Reliable off his left foot, he has the ability to control the tempo of games and initiate attacks for his side. Having made one appearance for England A earlier this year and signed a new deal with Leicester last month, the 30-year-old will be hoping to catch the eye of Steve Borthwick with the World Cup on the horizon. With competition for the number 10 shirt fierce, he could potentially put himself into contention for a call-up.
2. Freddie Steward
Steward has been a stalwart for Leicester for many years and produced another strong performance, setting up Adam Radwan with a perfectly weighted kick through. He once again put his body on the line, finishing the game with a bandage around his head after suffering a nasty cut.
The full-back faces competition for the England shirt, with the likes of George Furbank and Marcus Smith also in contention, but Steward offers a different skill set. A strong season with Tigers, coupled with greater leadership responsibilities, could give him the opportunity to impress those in charge and push his way back into the international picture.
3. Adam Radwan
Radwan marked his return to Kingston Park with a try against his former side and showed the pace and attacking threat that has put him in the England conversation before. The winger was recalled to Steve Borthwick’s squad earlier this year, and another strong season at Leicester could give him a chance to push himself back into the international picture. There's lot of competition on the wings, but Radwan offers genuine pace and a proven eye for the try line, making him an option Borthwick could turn to ahead of the World Cup.
4. Joe Heyes
Heyes put in another strong shift in the Tigers pack and continues to establish himself as an important part of Leicester’s forward unit. The 27-year-old has made 25 caps for England, and his consistency at club level keeps him firmly in the conversation. With a new long-term deal at Leicester and plenty of Premiership experience behind him, Heyes will be looking to build on his international experience and force his way into Borthwick’s plans with the 2027 World Cup approaching.
5. Obi Ene
Ene could hardly have asked for a better introduction to life at Kingston Park. The 23-year-old winger looked dangerous whenever he got his hands on the ball and capped an impressive debut with an early try in the corner. It might be a little bit premature to talk seriously about an England call-up, but performances like this will put his name on the radar. With time on his side, continued development at Red Bulls could see the winger emerge as an option for England in the future, particularly if he can establish himself as a regular try-scoring threat in the Premiership.
