way as our EDF and Heineken Challenges.

Those of you who did not make the 450 mile round trip may be forgiven for thinking that we were unlucky even hard done by. Lost by 3 points, turned down kickable penalty chances to at least draw, Richard Blaze held up over their line in the final play. In reality this was another disappointing performance, low on confidence, no win in 8 games and your best players leaving, we gifted Newcastle 10 points in the first 5 minutes, they held the momentum until the last 10 minutes and probably deserved to win.  

Like the pre match sight of Alex Moreno and Dan Cole scoffing Pie and Chips (I always thought a players body was a temple – perhaps its different for props) this Leicester team were ‘metaphorically’ still in the bar  for the first 10 minutes Johnny took the Kick off playing with the advantage of a stiff breeze behind the Falcons. 

The tone was set almost immediately as we failed to secure the ruck ball and got turned over. From the ensuing attack another ruck in the 22 and same old Leicester – Penalty for not rolling away 3 – 0 Falcons 1 minute played. 

The Newcastle lads were clearly pumped for this flying out of the line and hitting everything in white very hard. We were soon back in our 22 but this time secured the ruck and Ellis kicked down the line from the base. Rudd caught the ball just in play and with no Tigers player following up chose to counter.

A lateral run across field created space and from a series of pick and drives deep into the 22 Hooker long was on the end of a 5 metre ‘dash’ to the line. Try. 10 Minutes played and with the Wilkinson conversion 10 – 0 down and we hadn’t touched the ball. Pretty much from the restart, Falcons infringed when that “new tiger” Ben Woods hit the breakdown from the side – Penalty.

If the reports are to be believed Woods is Welford Road bound, I just hope it was not this particular quality that we have identified as one of his strengths. Into the wind Goode decline the shot and goal and pushed a super kick down the line to within 5 of the Falcons line. Benny Kay secured the ball near the front and we got the drive on, initially held the ball came back to “Jordan Jordan” as the programme described him and with seemingly no space Crane twisted, turned and stretched his way over in the corner. 

Goody hit a sweet conversion from the left touchline to make it 10 – 7 with less than 15 minutes played. 

Newcastle’s game was high on intensity and commitment with big hits the feature of a back row fired up and 2 big centres in Visser and Woods. It wasn’t long before that “same old Leicester” conceded another penalty on our 22 and pretty much in front of the posts. Wilko needs no second invitation to make it 13 – 7. That seemed to set the pattern with a series of big hits and penalties from both sides.

From just right of the posts and 40 metres out Goodey pushed his attempt wide of the right hand upright. The scrums were pretty even with Castro and Haymans seemingly more intent on pulling each other down. Perhaps it was the extra weight of Castro’s huge beard. The spring weather seems to have produced an extra spurt of growth over the last week and he was doing a very passable impression of his Cuban namesake!! 

A bit of possession and Tigers were on the attack into the Falcons 22 the ball went left and Geordan flicked the ball on and over Varndell into touch as he was hit by Tim Visser.  Visser hit him so hard he actually knocked himself out briefly and was a deadweight ontop of Murphy pinning him to the ground. 

The game restarted and Dowson the Newcastle captain picked up and made a good 20 metres from the base of the scrum before a combination of running out of defence and a huge kick from Tait took play back into the Tigers 22. Brain Dead play No 1 – Newcastle were on the attack when Wentzel tacked Rudd at least 10 metres from where the ball was. Referee Small along with just about everybody else on the ground saw the offence and sin binned Marco! The only surprise being Johnny missed the kick. 

We got out hands on the ball and drove into Newcastle, so good close exchanges by the forwards before Tom V almost got clear through the centre. Brain Dead play No 2 – only 5 minutes after the first brain dead play, Newcastle secured possession and with Goode completely out of position on the wrong side he tried to kick the ball out of the ruck.  He was lucky not to get Yellow and once again King Jonny missed with the penalty. 

Despite being a man down Tigers got some continuity to their play in the next 5 minutes and with some driving play from the backs Hipkiss and Mauger to the fore driven on by the forwards. The ball whipped down the line to the left and in the same tight spot that Crane had found himself earlier Tom V managed to stay in play and get the ball down for the Try. This time Goodey could not convert but it was back to 13 - 12 Leicester remained under some intense pressure now as Falcons went in for the kill.

Ex Tigers scrum half James Grindle burst clear into the 22 and fed on to Carl Haymans to score under the posts….. but somehow Geordan of the Murphy variety got underneath him and the ball was held up.Still the pressure was on with a series of scrums and driving mauls near the Leicester line, but Falcons for all their endeavour were low on ideas. 

A 5 metre scrum wide on the left and the Tigers pushed Falcons clean off their own ball, only problem was they forgot to stop pushing and with all 8 heads still buried in the scrum Falcons No 8 Dowson was able to pick up and run unopposed to the line. Brain Dead Play No 3! Wilkinson added the conversion and its 20 -12 Half Time 

I have been to all the premiership grounds and a few others besides but Kingston Park must have the loudest of loud PA systems, a barrage of deafening music and shouting announcer passed as our entertainment before Marcello emerged from the dressing room and walked a lonely figure across the pitch to his vantage point in the west stand.

What had he said? What could he do to motivate his players for the final push? On the evidence of the first 10 minutes not much because Newcastle came out every bit as fired up.

Under real pressure, Tigers survived, more by luck than judgement, first the forwards then the Falcons backs conspired to throw away 3 gilt edged scoring chances. We did manage to get into the Falcons half with a searing run from Hipkiss fed on by Mauger. We were getting by far the better of the scrums now with every Newcastle put-in getting shoved backwards. 

Penalty to Tigers to the left of the posts but Goode pushed it wide. Newcastle came with a strong run into the Tigers 22 and Goode falling out of a tackle was clearly in some distress.  He carried on and from another strong forward drive slotted a penalty to reduce the lead to 20 – 15. Castro was replaced by Ayerza and if anything the scrums got stronger.

But Newcastle’s hard hitting tackles turned the ball over on half way and from the breakdown Wilkinson saw only Kay and the hapless Tuilagi on the right. As soon as Grindle gave him the ball it was try time, Wilko drew Kay made the prefect pass and Rudd raced 35 metres down the right touchline to score. 

Wilkinson missed the conversion but at 25 – 15 it was looking game over. A hobbling Goode was struggling now but bizarrely it was a further 10 minutes before Goodey was replaced with Sam Vesty. Immediately Tigers picked up the pace. Time and time again sides staring down the barrel up their game and in the last 12 minutes Tigers did just that.

The continuity brought immediate rewards as Grindal was sin binned for tackling Hipkiss off the ball and Vesty hit the penalty.  25 –18. For the first time in the game there was some real urgency about Leicester, the forwards were destroying Falcons in the tight but as always when time is against you mistakes come and Croft charging through the middle failed to take the ball with him. 

Another penalty almost in front of the posts and 30 metres out, from hands on the floor (why does Ben Kay wear those bright orange gloves?) Johnny makes it 28 – 18  Poor Alex I feel sorry for him, he has spent a long time out this season and never hit the heights of last. He looks stiff and muscle bound, his driving runs got nowhere and he missed or dropped the ball at regular intervals. For him I suspect the season cant end soon enough. Into the last 10 and Vesty hits a neat kick to the corner.

Blaze on for Wentzel secures the line out ball and Ellis gets it to Mauger in midfield, a lovely little reverse with Hipkiss and Varndell off his wing bursts through the middle to score under the posts. 

Newcastle were still arguing about the crossing with the Ref as Vesty converted to make it 28 – 25 with 7 to play. Leicester are throwing everything at Falcons now and another

Penalty right in front of the posts would level the score. Cozza decides to go for the corner and the try to win it.  Its almost time up as Falcons hang on, Leicester take a scrum at another penalty and with the clock having long since hit 00.00 a final drive over the line by Crane and Blaze is deemed held up by the Ref. 

Game over:

Final Score 28 –25 

If it hadn’t been for the importance of the result and the need for at least 4 points this was a cracking game but once again Leicester came away second best. 

Gone is the street wise nouse of last season, no more the unbeatable tag. It’s all about decisions, and for most of the season we haven’t really had those decision makers when it matters. 

The one bit of good news… Harlequins lost.  When the day started a Sale loss was the desired result that of course assumed we would win and leave us in a head to head with Quins for 4^th spot.

That has now turned into a head to head for European qualification. Win and finish 5^th a European place is assured. I am resigned to consigning this season the to one of average mediocrity now its all about building for next and that starts next week!

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