Leicester Tigers 22-10 Newcastle Falcons

Leicester Tigers played host to a struggling Newcastle Falcons this Boxing Day. The Tigers came into this game with high confidence, after two outstanding victories over stern European competition in the form of Munster. Newcastle also come off of the back of a convincing win in Europe, defeating Connacht 29-5.

Leicester were glad to have had likes of Mathew Tait and Logovi’i Mulipola back from injury, both who started the match.

After a somewhat scrappy beginning to the game it was the Tigers who troubled first with a great passage of play down the right wing but the pass from Peter Betham couldn’t find the run of Mathew Tait.

Despite the early pressure from the Tigers it was Newcastle who were presented with the first opportunity to get onto the scoreboard, which they did through a Craig Willis penalty, after Fraser Balmain was sin-binned for a dangerous tip tackle.

The first 15 minutes saw Leicester pegged back into their own half for the majority and the Newcastle pressure finally paid off in the 14^th minute when number eight Nili Latu crashed over the line to score the day’s first try which was then easily converted.

Leicester’s reply to conceding first was what head Coach Richard Cockerill would have wanted from his side. The Leicester pack came close to pushing the ball over the line, however Newcastle were equal to the attack. What followed was a flurry of penalties in favour of the Tigers which eventually led to Freddie Burns finally putting the home side onto the scoresheet.

A moment of pure genius followed in the 27^th minute from Fly-half Burns. An outstanding Crossfield kick found winger Telusa Veainu. It was just a shame the tricky winger was adjudged to have dropped the ball by the match officials and the play was brought back to the earlier advantage.

Veainu soon made amends for his error scoring in a well worked move down the right wing for the home side bringing them level on the scoresheet – a fully deserved try

Leicester had completely reversed the game’s momentum after early Newcastle pressure. Mathew Tait this time going over to what was thought to be the 3^rd try of the match. However, again after careful inspection the ball was shown to have been dropped over the line – no try.

Half time.

Leicester came out into the second half firing with an early try in the 42^nd minute through outside centre Betham, who avoided his opposing number’s tackle – Burns converted the conversion from a difficult angle. Leicester now had the lead for the first time in the game.

Leicester perhaps should’ve been even further in the lead after winger Veainu punctured the Newcastle defence, but his unselfish pass to the supporting Betham was too far behind the Centre who was judged to have knocked the ball on.

The second half lacked chances for both sides since that Veainu break away. Newcastle had the best opportunity after a well worked line out. However, Willis’s pass to Chris Harris was deemed to be forward, putting an end to their best attack since the opening minutes.

The game was never really in doubt and Leicester rounded the game off in the 72^nd minute through a Laurence Pearce try, Betham with a fantastic quick pass under pressure to get the assist.