Leicester Tigers have fought bravely to win 19-13 at Kingston Park in Newcastle.
Tigers had an early opportunity to counter-attack but a loose pass saw Solomone Kata in front of the bobbling ball and the Tongan international was penalised.
Falcons made the most of the opportunity and got their first points of the night.
Tigers responded quickly, Jack van Poortvliet scoring a sniping try from 40 metres out.
Handré Pollard knocked the simple conversion over to make it 7-3.
Falcons weathered the storm, and once they had an opportunity inside Leicester territory, they swooped with a superb try from winger Ben Redshaw.
That try swung the first-half momentum and Tigers were forced to defend their line, the equation made more difficult after losing Josh Bassett to injury.
Tigers responded and worked their way up the field. Olly Cracknell won a penalty at the breakdown; Tigers went to the corner and Montoya was the beneficiary of a well-worked maul.
Pollard couldn’t find the extras, the score now 12-10 and that’s how it would remain at the break.
The action was tense after half-time, Falcons playing with belief and purpose while Tigers continued to defend well on their own line.
Falcons would take the lead through the boot of Connon but Tigers would then take full advantage of a mismatch on the wing, and a great offload from Jamie Shillcock saw Ollie Hassell-Collins cross out-wide.
Pollard added the extras to make it 19-13.
Falcons weren’t done however and Tigers were forced to defend with multiple players in the sin-bin but somehow they held on for a brave victory.
Final score from Kingston Park 19-13.
Commentary
TIGERS WIN IN DRAMATIC SCENES
In the 100th minute, after a wild 20 minutes of play with the clock in the red, Jasper Wiese and Finn Carnduff win a penalty at the breakdown and secure a six-point win.
YOUNGSTERS INTO THE GAME
Phil Cokanasiga and Emeka Ilione are brought in with just five minutes left at Kingston Park.
MONTOYA REPLACED UP FRONT
Julián Montoya is replaced at hooker by Charlie Clare and the fresh front row of Clare, Whitcombe and Hurd make an immediate impact, winning a scrum penalty against the feed to send the Falcons away.
TIGERS CHANGES
Dan McKellar makes three changes to his side with Tom Whiteley, James Whitcombe and Dan Richardson injected into the game in place of Jack van Poortvliet, James Cronin and Will Hurd.
CON | HANDRÉ POLLARD
Handré Pollard converts from the touchline to make the lead six points, 13-19, with 14 minutes remaining.
TRY | OLLIE HASSELL-COLLINS
Tigers hit back immediately and take back the lead in doing so with an impressive attacking play from one side to another that is finished brilliantly by Ollie Hassell-Collins.
65
JVP LEADING THE WAY
Jack van Poortvliet leads the Fans' Favourite voting on the Tigers App with just 15 minutes remaining.
PEN | NEWCASTLE FALCONS
The Falcons take back the lead, with 15 minutes left, after a successful penalty goal from Brett Connon.
60
CHANCE MISSED BY FALCONS
The home side's first chance to take back the lead is waved away after a Brett Connon penalty goal attempt narrowly misses the mark.
50
STILL TWO POINTS SEPARATING THE SIDES
No change to the half time scoreline after ten minutes of the second half at Kingston Park.
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
Handré Pollard gets the second 40 going at Kingston Park!
TIGERS LEAD AT THE BREAK
Leicester lead by two points, 10-12, at the break in Newcastle.
TRY | JULIÁN MONTOYA
Julián Montoya crashes over from the back of the pack after a dominant driving maul from a lineout deep inside the Falcons half to take Tigers back into the lead.
CHANGE | LEICESTER TIGERS
Josh Bassett comes from the field in the 28th minute after a collision in chasing a kick and is replaced by Jamie Shillcock.
CON | NEWCASTLE FALCONS
Brett Connon converts from in front to make it 10-7 after 17 minutes.
TRY | NEWCASTLE FALCONS
Newcastle take back the lead, with their first try of the game, after a set play from the Falcons backs off a set piece sees Ben Redshaw slice through and run it in to dot the ball down under the posts.
15
TERRITORY BATTLE
Both teams searching for vital territory in the opening stages at Kingston Park, through the boot, in a bid to gain an early advantage.
CON | HANDRÉ POLLARD
Handré Pollard converts from in front to make it 3-7 in the fourth minute.
TRY | JACK VAN POORTVLIET
Jack van Poortvliet dummies, steps and runs his way around the last line of Falcons defence for the scrum-half to diver over under the posts for the first try of the game.
PEN | NEWCASTLE FALCONS
Brett Connon lands a long-range penalty attempt to make it 3-0 to Newcastle after two minutes.
UNDERWAY IN NEWCASTLE
The Falcons get our Round 14 fixture underway in Newcastle!