Zurich Premiership leaders Leicester blitzed injury-hit Newcastle at Welford Road to rack up their biggest win of the season and the Falcons' heaviest defeat.

The Tigers scored 11 tries and had the bonus point wrapped up by half-time after three tries in 10 minutes just before the break.

Ollie Smith underlined his claims for a place in the England team with two of those tries before being replaced by Seru Rabeni and Andy Goode, added to the England squad this week, kicked 28 points.

Newcastle showed some good early pressure despite a second-minute Goode penalty and had the Tigers penned in their own 22. They were rewarded with a 13th-minute try from Mark Mayerhofler after good line-out work from the forwards and Tom May's conversion made it 7-3.

Leicester looked to have scored when Neil Back and Martin Corry drove over the line but the video referee ruled it out.

It did not make much difference with the Tigers running it from the scrum and Austin Healey scorched through for a try which Goode converted for 10-7.

Crucially, Newcastle overthrew at the line-out and that is meat and drink to the Tigers who hammered up the line through Henry Tuilagi and it was whipped out wide for Ollie Smith to score in the 32nd minute. Goode converted for 17-7.

It was quickly 24-7 with Healey releasing Daryl Gibson and he raced in for a try which Goode converted from wide out before May made it 24-10 with a penalty just before half-time.

Newcastle were being made to pay dearly for any mistake and when Mark Wilkinson's long kick from just outside his own 22 ran dead to mean a scrum back, Smith went outside Mayerhofler for a third try in 10 minutes which Goode converted and then added an injury-time penalty for 34-10.

Leicester were gifted an early try when referee Tony Spreadbury ignored the maul being pulled down.

The Tigers were allowed to go on and score through Leon Lloyd and Goode's conversion made it 41-10.

The rout was complete as early as the 46th minute when Goode intercepted Tait's pass and sent in Tuilagi for the try which Goode again converted for 48-10.

It was becoming embarrassing with Newcastle unable to cope with the Tigers pack and Back finished off a drive with another try converted by Goode. Will Johnson thundered over followed by a drive from which Back scored and Goode converted all three for 69-10.

Geordan Murphy scored only seconds after coming on as a substitute and Goode kicked crossfield for Corry to collect and send in Murphy with Goode's conversion making it 76-10.

It really did not matter that Lloyd's 78th-minute try was as a result of a forward pass which neither referee or touch judge could see although the main stand could and Goode's conversion took it out to 83-10.