| Newcastle(10) 13 |
| Attempt: Redshaw Con: Connon Pens: Connon 2 |
| Leicester (12) 19 |
| Tries: Van Poortvliet, Montoya, Hassell-Collins Cons: Pollard 2 |
Leicester Tigers maintained their hopes of constructing the highest 4 with a slim win at backside membership Newcastle Falcons who’ve now misplaced all 14 of their Premiership video games this season.
However Tigers needed to survive having three males sin-binned and 17 minutes of added time in a unprecedented finale.
Steve Diamond’s Falcons desperately pushed for victory however have been annoyed.
England duo Jack van Poortvliet and Ollie Hassell-Collins have been among the many three Leicester attempt scorers.
Julian Montoya acquired Tigers’ different attempt, with Handre Pollard touchdown two out of three kicks, whereas Ben Redshaw went over for Falcons.
In addition to his conversion for that attempt, Brett Connon kicked two penalties on an evening when the hosts led thrice.
But it surely was the exceptional finish to the sport that stole the present at Kingston Park, bringing a reminder of the well-known 100-minute match, the France-Wales Six Nations decider in Paris in 2017.
Referee Karl Dickson dished out three yellow playing cards, preserving alive Newcastle hopes by awarding penalty after penalty.
Hooker Charlie Clare, England full-back Freddie Steward and prop James Whitcombe have been all duly sin-binned because the Tigers’ second-half penalty rely soared in the direction of the 20-mark.
The guests have been nearly right down to 12 males however the additional interval lasted so lengthy that two of the sin-binned gamers, Clare and Steward, got here again on.
Leicester climb a few locations to fifth within the desk, a degree behind fourth-placed Exeter Chiefs.
Van Poortvliet scores on his return
Though the finale was fairly one thing, the sport had additionally acquired off to a full of life begin as Connon nailed a 45-metre penalty, just for Van Poortvliet to mark his first begin within the Premiership this season with a driving run by way of the center for the primary attempt of the sport, transformed by Pollard.
Redshaw put the Falcons again in entrance on 17 minutes with a superb run, from which Connon added the extras, just for Montoya to the touch down for a transformed attempt after a maul.
It took till the 63rd minute for the scoreboard to change once more, when Connon put the Falcons again in entrance for a 3rd time with the second of two long-range penalty possibilities.
However the lead didn’t final lengthy as Hassell-Collins completed off a high quality transfer within the left nook, to which South Africa’s World Cup successful stand-off Pollard added the extras.
However, regardless of the late drama, Newcastle might discover no additional means by way of.
Newcastle Falcons guide director of rugby Steve Diamond:
“We did lots of issues proper. We have been like a child in a sweetshop within the final 10 minutes. We simply did not know what ‘play’ to play to attain a attempt.
“They seem to be a very workmanlike, streetwise group who know the right way to sluggish the sport down in these durations once they have been right down to lower than 15, and we did not have the flexibility to attain.
“We are able to pat ourselves on the again as a lot as we wish however in actuality, we got here for a win and we did not get it.”
Leicester Tigers director of rugby Dan McKellar:
“I do not suppose you will see one other sport like that in any hurry the place it is 97 minutes deep – loopy.
“I knew our season was on the road however they saved exhibiting up for one another. I am extremely happy with the braveness they’ve proven, however we have got to be higher in lots of areas, there is no doubt.
“You’ve got additionally acquired to present credit score to the opposition as effectively. They’ve made some modifications up right here. I would not be trying ahead to being a group that also has to go to Kingston Park.”
Newcastle: Obatoyinbo; Radwan, Penny, Hutchison, Redshaw; Connon, Stuart; Brantingham, Blamire, Palframan, Cardall, de Chaves, Van Der Walt, Chick, Cross.
Replacements: Byrne, McCallum, Bello, Hawkins, Kelly, Douglas, Jennings, Spencer.
Leicester: Steward; Bassett, Scott, Kata, Hassell-Collins; Pollard, van Poortvliet; Cronin, Montoya, Hurd, Wells, Hatherell, Liebenberg, Cracknell, Wiese.
Replacements: Clare, Whitcombe, Richardson, Carnduff, Ilione, Whiteley, Shillcock, Cokanasiga.
Sin-bin: Clare (80), Steward (84), Whitcombe (90).
Referee: Karl Dickson.
Attendance: 7,112