Any ideas that Leicester's domination of the domestic game was coming to an
end were emphatically quashed at fortress Welford Road on Saturday afternoon, where
Newcastle suffered the backlash after the Tigers' poor start to the season.
Memories of defeats away at Leeds and Sale were buried as the European
champions outplayed Newcastle in every facet of the game.
The mighty Tigers' pack provided the platform for Tim Stimpson to boot 32
points in an immaculate kicking display, and for Rod Kafer, Neil Back, Ollie
Smith and Graham Rowntree to touch down as the Newcastle defence were
overwhelmed.
The four tries earned Leicester their second try bonus of the season as
Newcastle were swamped by the Tigers, wounded by last week's defeat to Sale and
out to prove a point.
Director of rugby Dean Richards made 10 changes following the 29-16 reverse at
Heywood Road, bringing back his England forwards and handing a home debut to Sam
Vesty at fly-half.
And the 20-year-old was instrumental as Leicester dictated the tempo and
dominated possession, allowing Stimpson to prove he ranks alongside the very
best kickers in the Zurich Premiership.
The England star, who was a Falcons player when they won the title in 1997-98,
landed 12 kicks in a majestic display, including a 45-metre drop goal which
bordered on the arrogant.
Stimpson profited from his pack's overwhelming strength and organisation, and
landed his first penalty just four minutes in after Newcastle's pack had wheeled
under immense pressure.
Newcastle shone in glimpses, largely through Jamie Noon whose break and
offload to Stuart Grimes after 13 minutes forced Harry Ellis to kill the ball,
handing Jonny Wilkinson the chance to level the game at six apiece.
He duly did, but in the half hour to the interval it was the last sniff
Newcastle were given as Stimpson stretched Leicester into 21-9 lead before
Kafer crossed after a move which highlighted Leicester's dominance.
Tom Tierney, starting at scum-half after Ellis was moved to the wing in place
of Steve Booth, flirted with off-side to pounce round the side of the scrum and
tie up Falcons number eight Phil Dowson, forcing the turn over.
From the possession Leicester swarmed up field, as Vesty orchestrated a
magnificent flowing move oozing momentum and class.
Newcastle were like rabbits in the headlights and the only real question was
who not whether Leicester would cross.
The answer came in form of Kafer after Vesty had danced through a scattered
Newcastle defence.
Stimpson's successful conversion, his eighth kick of the first half, sent the
Tigers into half time 28-9 ahead and emerged from the dressing room no less
ruthless.
Stimpson landed another penalty to extend the lead but it was in defence that
Leicester's dominance was set, Falcons winger Joe Shaw enveloped each time he
had possession and even captain Wilkinson could not play his side out of
trouble.
Stimpson kicked for the corners as Leicester turned the screw and after
Richard Arnold was sin-binned after 50 minutes, Back crossed virtually
unopposed.
Leicester were rampant and Smith burrowed over under a pile of bodies for the
Tigers' third score, awarded only after Stimpson had alerted referee Steve
Leyshon that his touch-judge felt the try was good.
Leicester continued going forward in search of the bonus point and though
Freddie Tuilagi knocked on in contact with the last man after 62 minutes,
Rowntree ensured the Tigers secured maximum points from a thoroughly emphatic
display.
TeamsLeicester: Stimpson, Ellis, Smith, Kafer, Tuilagi, Vesty,
Tierney, Rowntree, West, Garforth, M. Johnson, Kay, Moody,
Back, Corry.
Not Used: Tournaire, Chuter, Naufahu, Short, Booth,
Gelderbloom, Kronfeld.
Tries: Kafer, Back, Smith, Rowntree.
Cons: Stimpson 4.
Pens: Stimpson 7.
Drop Goals: Stimpson.
Newcastle: Botham, Shaw, Noon, Godman, Stephenson,
J. Wilkinson, Grindal, Peel, Brotherstone, Hurter, Vyvyan,
Grimes, Taione, Arnold, Dowson.
Not Used: Charlton, Ward, Hamilton, Devonshire, Isaacson,
Thompson, Otuvaka.
Pens: J. Wilkinson 3.
Att: 15,656
Ref: Steve Leyshon (RFU).
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