Leicester sneak past Newcastle to claim first win of Gallagher Prem season

Leicester clinched their first Gallagher Prem win of the season with a 24-19 victory over Newcastle.

Making his Newcastle bow in front of a sold-out Kingston Park, Obi Ene crossed early on, but the Tigers soon took control as tries from Samiuela Moli and Adam Radwan along with a Billy Searle penalty handed them a 17-5 lead at the break.

George McGuigan went over in the second half for Newcastle, but Will Hurd’s try extended Leicester’s advantage and they withstood a late scare when Cam Jordan crossed for the hosts in the last 10 minutes.

The Tigers managed to see the game out to move into fifth after two Prem matches, while Newcastle slipped to a second successive league defeat.

An impressive start saw Newcastle go ahead after three minutes following pressure just in front of the Tigers’ line, Brett Connon quickly offloading for debutant Ene to dive over in the left corner.

Connon could not convert and Leicester were subsequently frustrated by a solid defensive effort from the hosts.

The Tigers eventually scored from a lineout when the rolling maul powered over the line and Moli bagged his maiden Prem try for the club, with Searle converting.

The visitors began to gather momentum and Christian Wade made a brilliant try-saving tackle from Gabriel Hamer-Webb in the left corner before the Leicester winger made an important intervention himself, hauling Harrison Obatoyinbo down on the break.

Leicester doubled their advantage following Freddie Steward’s well-placed grubber kick and Radwan chased down the ball to ground against his old club, with Searle adding the extras.

The fly-half extended Leicester’s lead further with a successful penalty and the visitors defended well on their own line to withstand Newcastle’s attacks.

The beginning of the second half was primarily played in the midfield with multiple scrums until Newcastle suddenly surged forward, but a misplaced pass was snatched by Leicester to break.

However, Radwan booted the ball forward and was too heavy with his second kick as it trickled out of play.

Newcastle pulled a score back when McGuigan powered over the line to ground and Connon’s kick was successful.

The Tigers then replied from close range when Hurd charged through the home defence and over the line in one single move before Searle converted.

A good string of moves saw Newcastle pin Leicester back and they struck when Jordan dived over the line, with Zack Henry adding the extras to move within five points of the visitors with five minutes left.

Wade was stopped as the hosts looked to strike in the dying minutes, but Leicester managed to see the win out.