Jamie Noon starred for Newcastle as the Falcons hauled themselves off the foot
of the Zurich Premiership with a magnificent victory over defending champions
Leicester.
Noon, in the England squad for this year's RBS 6 Nations championship but yet
to feature in a match, repeatedly tore open the Tigers' defence and capped his
afternoon with a 57th-minute try.
His performance will have given Clive Woodward a timely reminder of his
ability ahead of the Calcutta Cup clash with Scotland next Saturday and the
England boss will also be pleased with Jonny Wilkinson's contribution this
afternoon.
The Newcastle skipper, who picked up a shoulder injury against Italy last
weekend, came through unscathed today, booting 14 points and showing his usual
composure at outside-half.
Michael Stephenson also crossed for the home side while Steve Booth and Dorian
West touched down for Leicester, whose cynical display won them few fans in the
Kingston Park crowd.
They infringed repeatedly but often escaped the attention of referee Tony
Spreadbury, who also sent Newcastle's Mark Andrews and Andrew Mover to the
sin-bin.
Fearsome defence from both sides marked the opening exchanges, with Wilkinson
putting in one notable hit while Noon and Ollie Smith met head on in a
bone-crunching collision.
Half-chances were being created at both ends and the first try arrived in the
15th minute when Josh Kronfeld carved open the Falcons' defence with a neat
side-step.
His run was halted five metres short of the Newcastle line but the Tigers were
awarded a scrum which they used to good effect with Smith spinning the ball to
an onrushing Booth who sped over.
Craig McMullen added the conversion but Newcastle then racked up 13 unanswered
points to push them into the lead.
Two Wilkinson penalties sandwiched a sublime piece of individual skill from
winger Stephenson who took an inside pass from Hugh Vyvyan before chipping over
Booth and winning a race to the line to touch down.
Wilkinson landed the extras but Booth made slight amends for his earlier
defensive shortcomings by booting a long-range penalty which just brushed over
the crossbar.
But the momentum was still with Newcastle and they went desperately close to
crossing for a second time when Tongan flanker Epi Taione came charging into the
line, brushing off two players before being hauled down.
The ball was recycled and there was an overlap out on the left but Wilkinson
was guilty of over-complicating matters as he switched play to the right where
centre Mark Mayerhofler dropped a simple pass.
Noon was enjoying a fine afternoon and his try-saving tackle on Leon Lloyd
ensured Newcastle finished the first half with their slender three-point lead
intact.
Wilkinson struck a drop-goal six minutes after the interval and Leicester were
dealt a further blow with the loss of Lloyd and England centre Smith in quick
succession, with both players hobbling off injured.
The Falcons continued to threaten and Noon scored a deserved try when he
chipped over Booth and outstripped Freddie Tuilagi, with the Tigers winger
requiring medical attention for several minutes after he crashed over the
advertising boarding in his desperation to save the try.
Andrews was given 10 minutes in the sin-bin for a professional foul and then
in the 68th minute Scotland flanker Mover was shown a yellow card for what
appeared to be a tussle on the ground, leaving Newcastle to play with 13 men for
three minutes.
Leicester made their numerical advantage tell immediately with a pushover try
from hooker West, but a penalty from Wilkinson shortly after the Falcons some
breathing space.
West scored an identical try to his first with a minute to go and Booth
converted, setting up a grandstand finish but Leicester could not break through
again.
Teams:
Newcastle: Shaw, May, Noon, Mayerhofler, Stephenson,
J. Wilkinson, Grindal, Peel, Makin, Hurter, Andrews, Grimes,
Taione, Mower, Vyvyan.
Not Used: Charlton, MacLure, Godman, Ward, Hamilton, Dowson,
Thompson.
Tries: Stephenson, Noon.
Cons: J. Wilkinson.
Pens: J. Wilkinson 3.
Drop Goals: J. Wilkinson.
Leicester: Murphy, Lloyd, Smith, Kafer, Tuilagi, McMullen,
Tierney, Freshwater, West, Tournaire, M. Johnson, Deacon,
Corry, Kronfeld, Balding.
Not Used: Rowntree, Back, Garforth, Kay, J. Hamilton, Booth,
Vesty.
Tries: Booth, West 2.
Cons: McMullen, Booth.
Pens: Booth.
Att: 9,105
Ref: Tony Spreadbury (RFU).
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