Newcastle continued their resurgent form to take a seventh win in eight games with an outstanding display as they defeated Guinness Premiership leaders Leicester 14-10 at Kingston Park.

The held on after establishing a 14-0 half-time lead through a try from centre Tane Tu'ipulotu and nine points from the boot of fly-half Tom May, who enjoyed a superb match with his astute tactical kicking punishing Leicester errors.

The Tigers got on the board through a Toby Flood penalty and grabbed a losing bonus point at the death as Ben Youngs capitalised on a chargedown to score.

Leicester headed into the game on the back of five straight Guinness Premiership victories and were boosted by the return of captain Martin Corry after a six-week suspension, while Flood, Tom Croft, Harry Ellis, Martin Castrogiovanni and Geordan Murphy all returned from Six Nations duty.

Newcastle, who saw their run of six consecutive league wins ended by Bath last week, brought Matt Thompson in at hooker with Hall Charlton starting at scrum-half.

Captain Phil Dowson moved to number eight to replace the injured Adam Balding with Tim Swinson moving from second row to the blindside flank.

The game opened with both sides showing the confidence to go through the phases and it was the Falcons who took a 15th-minute lead when England centre Jamie Noon made room to offload in midfield, allowing wing John Rudd to take the attack into the 22.

The move eventually ended with full-back Alex Tait putting Tu'ipulotu over in the corner for an unconverted try.

Newcastle's lead almost proved to be shortlived as May's loose pass was hacked through by opposite number Flood but a superb piece of covering work from second row Geoff Parling nullified the danger.

The visitors were enjoying the majority of possession but their play was riddled with uncharacteristic errors, with Ireland full-back Geordan Murphy enduring a testing time, and they found their hosts in fiercely competitive form at the breakdwon with captain Dowson to the fore.

Fly-half May then extended the lead by knocking over a 45-metre penalty, with the help of the crossbar, after Leicester slowed the ball down at a ruck before slamming over a drop goal from a similar distance moments later and adding a further penalty in the shadows of half-time to make it 14-0.

Leicester, who must have had the words of acting head coach Richard Cockerill ringing in their ears, started the second half with renewed vigour as they forced the Falcons into phase after phase of defence with the home side conceding a penalty to allow Flood to get the Tigers on the board.

Cockerill rang the changes with Corry, Scott Hamilton and George Chuter being replaced by Ben Pienaar, Johne Murphy and Mefin Davies but basic handling errors continued to cost the Tigers.

One such turnover saw Tu'ipulotu ghost through the Tigers defence but the visitors got back well to deny Rudd in the corner with more desperate defence needed to keep Tait out on the other flank.

The visitors hit back but when centre Ayoola Erinle looped a pass to his supporters into touch after making a scything break it seemed to sum up their night with none of their international contingent showing any signs of being able to break down a robust Newcastle defence, and their creative axis of Flood and Aaron Mauger was some way below its incisive best.

The Tigers continued to dominate territory and possession throughout the final quarter but time and again they were frustrated by Steve Bates' side.

But they earned what could prove to be a vital bonus point as May's clearance to touch to end the match was charged down and replacement Youngs dotted down the bouncing ball and Flood added the extras.