Newcastle came close to snatching a dramatic win in their Zurich Premiership clash with Leicester Tigers at Kingston Park.

In front of a sell-out 10,000 crowd, the Falcons clawed their way back from 25-18 down to level the scores with a try from Jon Dunbar. Then in injury time, Warren Britz and Hugh Vyvyan broke down the right wing and they changed passes and it seemed Vyvyan must score.

But he was caught a yard out and his one-handed pass to Mark Mayerhofler was spilled on the line by the centre and the match, a real thriller, was over.

Jamie Noon's record 47th consecutive Premiership appearance lasted just 60 seconds when he felt the full force of Henry Tuilagi's charge and had to helped off after lengthy treatment to be replaced by Epi Taione.

Michael Stephenson's chip and chase forced a five metre line-out and from the catch by Vyvyan, Hall Charlton nearly broke through, but Newcastle could control the recycled ball and knocked on through Mayerhofler.

Both Tom Hall and Taione saw glimmers of openings as Newcastle stole two successive Leicester line-outs, but again the Falcons control of the ball at the breakdown was poor.

Newcastle then lost full-back Joe Shaw stretchered off after a collision in the 18th minute and Daryl Lilley came on.

Leicester were all over the ball 45 metres out and Dave Walder kicked a superb penalty in the 22nd minute.

But then Andy Goode's powerful run had Newcastle going backwards and had Geordan Murphy gone right instead of left it would have been a try, but the Falcons went over the ball and Goode kicked a 24th minute penalty to level the scores.

Leicester put enormous pressure on the Falcons scrum and the ball back to Mayerhofler was so slow that Jaco Van der Westhuyzen easily charged down his kick and scored a crucial try which Goode converted on the half hour.

Newcastle spurned a kick at goal to take a line-out in the corner and it paid off with a superb back line move with Walder looping around Mayerhofler, and Taione throwing out a huge pass for Stephenson to score in the corner before another silky break from Van der Westhuyzen led to a penalty in first half stoppage time which Goode landed for 13-8.

There was still time for Walder to kick his second penalty to make it 13-11 at half-time when Leicester again piled over the ball at the breakdown.

Newcastle got the score they wanted 10 minutes into the second half when Lilley chipped ahead and Vyvyan collected, shrugged of a tackle and sent in May for a try in the corner which Walder converted.

But back came the Tigers with a strong run from Henry Tuilagi and Van der Westhuyzen darted over for his second try. Goode converted for Leicester to move back into the lead 20-18 and when Back crashed over soon afterwards, the Tigers had edged 25-18 ahead.

Newcastle were under the cosh in the last quarter, but they hung on the face of a Tigers onslaught.

Then they suddenly broke out with a flowing move in which Mayerhofler and Lilley cut through the middle and Lilley's reverse pass sent in Dunbar. Walder levelled the scores with the conversion.

Then came that injury time miss which would have secured Newcastle a dramatic win.

Teams:

Newcastle: J. Shaw, May, Noon, Mayerhofler, Stephenson, Walder, Charlton, Peel, Makin, Hurter, Archer, Grimes, Dunbar, Britz, Vyvyan.

Replacements: Lilley for J. Shaw (20), Taione for Noon (1), Grindal for Charlton (76), Ward for Peel (36), Thompson for Makin (53), Hamilton for Archer (76).

Not Used: Parling.

Tries: Stephenson, May, Dunbar.

Cons: Walder 2.

Pens: Walder 2.

Leicester: Goode, Murphy, Gelderbloom, Gibson, Holtby, van der Westhuyzen, Ellis, Rowntree, West, White, M. Johnson, L. Deacon, Corry, Back, H. Tuilagi.

Replacements: Healey for Holtby (54), Morris for Rowntree (52), Richards for West (38), Kay for L. Deacon (52), W. Johnson for H. Tuilagi (61).

Not Used: Booth, F. Tuilagi.

Tries: van der Westhuyzen 2, Back.

Cons: Goode 2.

Pens: Goode 2.

Att: 10,000

Ref: Sean Davey (RFU).