Leicester ensure home send-off for England greats with Newcastle win

Leicester secured a home semi-final in the Gallagher Premiership with a 42-20 victory over bottom-placed Newcastle at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

The Tigers were always expected to secure second spot against opponents with just two league victories all season and ran in six tries to book a date with third-placed Sale next Saturday.

It means the soon-to-be retiring trio of Ben Youngs, Dan Cole and Mike Brown – over 300 England caps between them – will have one more match on home turf as Leicester seek a 12th league title.

Newcastle defended resolutely in the early stages, with current England international Ollie Chessum being held up after attempting to barge his way over for the Tigers from close range.

Having soaked up the pressure, the Falcons then opened the scoring in the 17th minute through a Brett Connon penalty from in front of the posts.

Leicester’s response was swift as they took the lead two minutes later when good hands from Joseph Woodward and Freddie Steward led to back-rower Hanro Liebenberg stepping inside to score, with Handre Pollard converting.

The visitors then had Louis Brown, an early replacement for the injured Elliott Obatoyinbo, sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on with a considerable Tigers overlap on his outside.

Leicester scored their second try after 33 minutes when Solomone Kata won possession in the Newcastle half and passed to Liebenberg whose off-load gave Josh Bassett a clear run down the right.

Connon pulled back three points for Newcastle with his second penalty just before half-time, reducing Leicester’s lead to 14-6.

It had been an untidy first-half performance by the Tigers and more frustration followed early in the second half when a Steward try was disallowed for an obstruction by Kata on Louis Brown.

Another home score was chalked off due to Ollie Hassell-Collins putting a forearm to Alex Hearle’s face before sprinting away, with the winger sin-binned for his aggressive transgression.

Despite being down to 14 men, Leicester finally had their third try when Kata picked up five metres out and weaved his way over to ease the tension, with Pollard adding the extras.

The bonus point was in the bag for the hosts in the 61st minute when replacement prop Joe Heyes managed to force his way over from inches out.

Newcastle had their first try of the afternoon when Ollie Leatherbarrow touched down under the posts, but Leicester soon had their fifth when Kata’s off-load gave Matt Rogerson an easy run-in.

Louis Brown’s pass then put Sammy Arnold in the clear for the Falcons, only for Hassell-Collins to have the final say for the Tigers with a minute left when he glided clear down the right.