Leicester hold off Newcastle for first Prem win

The Prem

Newcastle (5) 19

Tries: Ene, McGuigan, Jordan Cons: Connon, Henry

Leicester (17) 24

Tries: Moli, Radwan, Hurd Cons: Searle 3 Pens: Searle

Leicester Tigers picked up their first win of the season with a tense and hard-fought victory at Newcastle Red Bulls.

Former Newcastle winger Adam Radwan scored on his return to Kingston Park as the Tigers won for the first time in seven matches in all competitions, following a dismal run which stretches back into last season.

After being edged out by two points in a high-scoring thriller by Saracens six days ago, Leicester had to show their grit and determination to cling on to victory against a Newcastle side which threatened a late comeback.

Newcastle took the lead through Obi Ene’s early score but, despite another improved showing, they ultimately came up just short in their first home match of the season.

Ene scored three minutes into his Prem debut after Newcastle moved the ball left. The former Sale winger weaved inside, having collected fly-half Brett Connon’s excellent cut-out pass, to dive over for the opener.

But Leicester hit back when hooker Samiuela Moli launched himself over at the back of a driving maul as Billy Searle popped over the conversion to give Tigers a slender advantage.

Gabriel Hamer-Webb had an opportunity to go over for Leicester soon after but was pushed into touch by an excellent try-saving tackle by Christian Wade before Hamer-Webb made his own outstanding score-stopping challenge as Newcastle’s Harrison Obatoyinbo threatened to break clear.

That moment proved to be pivotal as former Newcastle winger Radwan latched on to Freddie Steward’s exquisite grubber kick to touch down and after Searle kicked the conversion, the fly-half then added a penalty in front of the sticks.

Newcastle missed two very presentable opportunities to score a second try before half-time and the match restarted in a scrappy manner after the break – until Ene was prevented from scoring a second try of the match thanks to a textbook challenge from Leicester replacement Will Wand.

Radwan spurned a good opportunity to score his second, kicking the ball dead when he had a whole half of the field to run into. Leicester were made to pay for their profligacy when George McGuigan’s pick-and-go saw him drive over from close range to help pull the deficit back to five points.

Leicester got a vital third try of the night when Will Hurd’s quick tap saw him barrel over and Searle kicked the conversion to make it a two-score game once more with 12 minutes remaining.

Newcastle carved through Leicester with just under seven minutes left when Ollie Leatherbarrow’s bold carry saw him break a tackle as Cameron Jordan went over with Zack Henry adding the extras.

With the clock ticking down, Wade carried Newcastle forward with a trademark burst down the wing but the home side were eventually guilty of holding on as Leicester gratefully kicked to touch to claim victory.

‘We were not accurate enough’ – reaction

Newcastle Red Bulls director of rugby Dan McFarlane told BBC Radio Newcastle:

“I’m really disappointed to be honest. It was a game we could have won. Really pleased with the way we approached the game. I thought we were full of effort, full of energy.

“Most importantly, we were full of the endeavour that we wanted to put in, in terms of the way we wanted to play the game.

“Unfortunately, we were not accurate enough in key areas – but that will grow.

“We are trying not to play in a boring way. Today, we weren’t where we wanted to be. In the first half, we gave away penalties at set piece and let them into our 22. I thought we improved in that area as the game went on.”

Leicester Tigers head coach Geoff Parling told BBC Radio Leicester:

“Gritty and dogged. Defensively, some good resolve and they’re [Newcastle] going to break some teams this year with their quality attack and good speed.

“You go all pre-season and you try to build some real cohesion and you lose a lot of guys in the same position but, no excuses, we’ve just got to be better. I’ve got to help those guys to be able to execute in those moments.

“There’s loads to improve on. The general feeling in the changing room is disappointment, which is great for me.

“Accuracy in the second half, especially at set piece, we didn’t allow ourselves to build up some pressure.”

Newcastle Red Bulls: Obatoyinbo; Wade, Hearle, Harris, Ene; Connon, Elliott; Rakete-Stones, McGuigan, Millar Mills; Usher, Jordan, Hicks, Christie (capt), Sotutu.

Replacements: Fletcher, Brocklebank, Harper, Molina, Leatherbarrow, Graham, Benitez Cruz, Henry.

Leicester Tigers: Steward; Radwan, Kata, Bailey, Hamer-Webb; Searle, Van Poortvliet (capt); Vunipola, Moli, Heyes; Thompson, Henderson, Wainwright, Reffell, Cracknell.

Replacements: Thunder, Haffar, Hurd, Manz, Moro, Whiteley, Wand, Hassell-Collins.

Referee: Christophe Ridley.