Leicester Tigers eased their relegation fears and left Newcastle Falcons rooted at the bottom of the Gallagher Premiership with a narrow 27-22 win at Kingston Park. The result went right down to the wire with the Falcons edging towards the Leicester line right at the death only to concede a turnover penalty which saw the Tigers hang on for what could be Premiership safety. The Tigers dominated much of the first half and led 13-0 after 25 minutes. The match did not start well for the Falcons with Toby Flood's kick off going straight into touch and at the scrum on halfway Rodney Ah You was penalised. George Ford kicked the penalty for 3-0 to the visitors after less than two minutes. Ford dominated the opening exchanges with some excellent kicking to keep Newcastle penned in their own half and the pressure paid off when back row Guy Thompson broke two tackles. Six Nations Team of the Tournament Show all 24 1 /24 Six Nations Team of the Tournament Six Nations Team of the Tournament Six Nations Team of the Tournament Click through the gallery to see who makes Jack de Menezes' Team of the Six Nations. Getty Six Nations Team of the Tournament 15. Liam Williams (Wales) Has claims for the player of the tournament award after a brilliant two months. Shone in the absence of Leigh Halfpenny and handled the England kicking game with ease in Cardiff. Should have scored against France but offered so much more than tries to Wales’ Grand Slam cause and is among the very best aerial footballers. AFP/Getty Images Six Nations Team of the Tournament 14. Josh Adams (Wales) Early in his international career but has given Warren Gatland a serious selection headache if and when Halfpenny returns, as Adams deserves to be in the starting XV on this form. Tries in three consecutive matches against Italy, England and Scotland, including a moment against the Red Rose that will live long in the memory. PA Six Nations Team of the Tournament 13. Henry Slade (England) A breakthrough tournament for the versatile centre who finally looks to have found his place in the No 13 shirt. Glides across the field with the ball in hand and his two tries against Ireland helped England banish their Dublin hoodoo. One of the most naturally gifted players of his generation. Getty Images Six Nations Team of the Tournament 12. Hadleigh Parkes (Wales) Has slotted in seamlessly into the Welsh midfield and saved his biggest impact for the Grand Slam-clinching finale – not just by scoring the first try immediately but also for his try-saving recovery tackle on Ireland’s Jacob Stockdale. Manu Tuilagi certainly impressed with five consecutive appearances and a demolition job on France and Italy, but he could not match Parkes’ defensive reliability. Action Images via Reuters Six Nations Team of the Tournament 11. Jonny May (England) The tournament’s top scorer brings fans to their feet whenever he receives the ball in space. Only failed to score a try in one of his five matches and bagged rapid 29-minute hat-trick against France. His relationship with Elliot Daly has been a joy to watch. AP Six Nations Team of the Tournament 10. Finn Russell (Scotland) Alongside Beauden Barrett as the most potent attacking threats at 10 in the world. The way he brought Scotland back into the match against England was breath-taking to watch, and he also impressed in the defeat against Wales. Missed the game against France with concussion, but you can see why Racing 92 offered him the chance to make it big in the Top 14. Action Images via Reuters Six Nations Team of the Tournament 9. Ben Youngs (England) The most consistent option at 9 as he became England’s most-capped scrum-half with his 85th appearance on the final weekend. Significantly improved his kicking game for the tournament and will head to the World Cup as the unrivalled No 1. Getty Images Six Nations Team of the Tournament 1. Rob Evans (Wales) Decimated Tadhg Furlong on the scrum as Wales worked out the Irish pack at the set-piece, and he stood up brilliantly in his other big tests against Kyle Sinckler and WP Nel. Mako Vunipola had early claims to the spot but only played one-and-a-half games, whereas Evans is in the most sustained form of his career. PA Six Nations Team of the Tournament 2. Jamie George (England) Makes playing rugby look enjoyable as he does it with a smile on his face – especially when he bagged his try against Italy. Mr Reliable at the lineout throughout the tournament and probably the most mobile hooker in the Six Nations. PA Six Nations Team of the Tournament 3. Kyle Sinckler (England) Took a lot of unfair criticism following the Wales defeat and continues to serve an education that will do him only good moving beyond this championship. Looks for work in the back line and possesses the handling ability to warrant his roaming role. Getty Images Six Nations Team of the Tournament 4. George Kruis (England) Really stepped up his game in the absence of Maro Itoje and Courtney Lawes and deserves a lot of plaudits for how he ran the lineout in Dublin. Scored a try as well as set one up for Brad Shields with charge-downs against Italy and can be proud of what he offered the tournament. Action Images via Reuters Six Nations Team of the Tournament 5. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales) A leader by example and the undoubted man of the series. Knew exactly how to get into England and put them under pressure in ways they couldn’t cope, and his sheer defiance to let what looked a bad knee injury forced him off against Ireland was inspiring. Deserved to lift the trophy off a Grand Slam, and he revelled in the moment when it finally came. AP Six Nations Team of the Tournament 6. Josh Navidi (Wales) If Jones was the player of the series, then Navidi was the breakthrough star of the campaign.<doc-sep>A couple of Richards’ assertions were dubious at best, but one was downright untrue: there simply is not a long way to go. Newcastle have just three games left – at home to Northampton, away to Gloucester, then finishing at home to Bristol – while rivals Worcester, two points ahead of them, have four, starting with today’s home game against Sale. The sense that time is running out was underscored by Newcastle’s nervy start to this game as Leicester launched an early onslaught. The Falcons’ skittishness was not helped by a harsh early scrum penalty which saw Leicester take the lead after two minutes when Ford kicked the penalty from the halfway line. When Leicester registered the game’s first try after 17 minutes, it was due reward for their complete dominance. The impressive Guy Thompson was the catalyst, the No.8 tearing down the blindside and throwing an audacious backhanded offload to Jonny May. The wing still had a lot to do, but cut in from the touchline, beating two men before going over in the corner. But nothing better illustrates Leicester’s season than the way in which they finished the half. Simon Hammersley collected the ball in his own 22 and scythed through Leicester’s defence before finally being dragged down on the Tigers’ 22. Tane Takulua picked up and fed the bullocking George McGuigan, the hooker offloading for Chris Harris to go under the posts. To concede one try from your own half is poor, to concede two in as many minutes is unforgiveable. Straight from the kick-off Niki Goneva took the ball in his own 22 and stood up Jordan Olowofela on the touchline (“Goneva made an absolute show of Jordan, he’ll be having nightmares about that one for a long time,” said Murphy), the wing eventually feeding Takulua, the scrum-half fending off George Ford twice to go over. Leicester are in a relegation dogfight because they have conceded over 28 missed tackles per match – the target for Premiership teams is less than ten – and it was killing them again. It could have been worse too: another referee would have yellow carded May for prematurely charging Takulua’s conversion. If Newcastle were perhaps unlucky to go into half-time trailing 13-12, they had no-one else to blame for a hammer-blow of a try shortly after the break when Flood’s telegraphed pass was picked off on halfway by man of the match Thompson, who ran in untouched. Newcastle’s forwards then launched a frenzied assault on the Tigers line which only ended when Mike Williams illegally dragged down the drive and was sin-binned. No sooner had the Leicester openside trudged off than Takulua forced his way over for his second try following a five-metre scrum which was followed by a retaken successful conversion after May encroached yet again. At 19-20 with 20 minutes remaining, Ellis Genge was penalised for a no-arms tackle on Flood, Takulua kicking the Falcons into a two-point lead and sending Kingston Park into a collective spasm of delirium. It was short-lived, though. Leicester went back to basics, muscled up and drove their way over, Thompson touching down for his second try, one which may just mark the moment Leicester maintained their Premiership status.<doc-sep>What the heck has happened to Newcastle? In October last year I wrote about them: “This lot are definite contenders to be in the top six shake up, and with Deano [Dean Richards] and [Dave] Walder sitting on the sidelines, you know they will never stop believing that they belong at the top of the table.” They eventually finished fourth. They now sit bottom. I still wouldn’t want to play poker for my house against Deano. I played too many games of cards with him to understand that no matter the bag of rubbish he is holding, he won’t blink. Unfortunately, you can’t say that about his team at this point and Newcastle have been bang average this year. Their game against Leicester on Friday night may well determine their fate. A big gun referee in Wayne Barnes in charge. Under the lights. It will be feisty. Deano v Geordan Murphy – Yoda and Jedi. Here’s where Newcastle need to focus to thrive on the pressure: Controlling their desperation Three wins on the bounce before defeat to Saracens last weekend have kept Newcastle alive. In the first of these against Worcester, on March 3, there was desperation evident everywhere in Falcons’ performance. I scribbled down: “So physical – livelihoods on the line.” This can be a powerful weapon for a team involved in a contact sport. But it is an emotion that will not uniquely be theirs tonight with Leicester also in this dogfight. Neither team will forget or underestimate the upheaval that comes with failure for the team that goes down. On and off the field. Kicking game In a match I described as “absolute crud”, with “total panic” from both Wasps and Newcastle, Brett Connon stepped up to convert a penalty to snatch it with the last kick of the game for the latter. It is an area which has held up this season with their goal kicking looking ominously good. Sonatane Takalua’s box kicks for height or length are exceptional. Toby Flood knows how to control a game and play territory. Simon Hammersley can smash it from the back down a channel and gets his gangly frame high into the sky to diffuse aerial threats.<doc-sep>Toby Flood sat down on the sofa to watch last month’s East Midlands derby. But, as Northampton Saints stormed towards a 20-3 half-time lead at Welford Road, he struggled to endure the spectacle. “I turned the TV off,” admits Flood. “I hadn’t watched rugby in ages, so I thought I’d have a look. After 30 minutes I went and walked the dog.” Newcastle’s fly-half and co-captain represents one of numerous links between the two teams involved in Friday night’s Premiership showdown at Kingston Park. He is a close friend of Geordan Murphy, Leicester’s head coach. The former Tigers teammates have not exchanged messages this week, though. Flood did not want to appear insincere. “I think it would have been one of those awkward conversations,” adds the 33 year-old. “I would have said ‘good luck’ at the end but that would have been half-arsed. The reality is we have our own fight to fight. If we’d have been in third or fourth as we were last year, I definitely would have picked up the phone, but we’re meeting this weekend. “He has the full backing of the board from what I understand – no matter what happens. But it’s a stressful time. He carries the weight of that culture. You don’t play that many games for Leicester then stay there for so long without carrying the weight of fans, of the board, of himself, of the city.<doc-sep>
The Tigers secured a vital 27-22 victory. Leicester eased their relegation fears and left Newcastle rooted at the bottom of the Gallagher Premiership with a narrow 27-22 win at Kingston Park. The result went right down to the wire with the Falcons edging towards the Leicester line right at the death only to concede a turnover penalty which saw the Tigers hang on for what could be Premiership safety. The Tigers dominated much of the first half and led 13-0 after 25 minutes. The match did not start well for the Falcons with Toby Flood's kick off going straight into touch and at the scrum on halfway Rodney Ah You was penalised. George Ford kicked the penalty for 3-0 to the visitors after less than two minutes. Ford dominated the opening exchanges with some excellent kicking to keep Newcastle penned in their own half and the pressure paid off when back row Guy Thompson broke two tackles. His back-of-the-hand offload sent Jonny May on a typical weaving run for a try which was converted by Ford to make it 10-0 in the 16th minute. Ford added a 24th-minute penalty when Mike Williams hammered Flood in the tackle and Gary Graham went straight over the ball off his feet. It could have been 16-0 four minutes later when Ah You stupidly pushed Ellis Genge, but Ford's kick hit the post. But then Newcastle dragged themselves back into the match with two tries in three minutes. A brilliant counter-attacking run from Simon Hammersley from deep in his own half into the Tigers 22 saw Tane Takulua find George McGuigan in support and his brilliant offload sent in Chris Harris for the try which was converted by Takulua. Then a Mark Smith pick up at the base of the scrum in his own half saw the number eight release Niki Goneva who stepped Jordan Olowofela and raced down the right. Goneva then found Takulua inside him and the scrum-half held off the high challenge of Ford to score in the corner and make it 13-12 in the 35th minute. Newcastle started the second half with some early pressure but they presented Leicester with their second try in the 47th minute when Thompson intercepted Flood's pass and raced in from halfway. Ford converted to make it 20-12. Flood's decision to got to the corner with a kickable penalty paid off when the Falcons drove for the line and Mike Williams was sin-binned for pulling down the maul. There was an argument for a penalty try but Newcastle were awarded a penalty and Mark Wilson opted for the scrum. His pick up at the base and drive over led to the Falcons' third try. Takulua converted but only after referee Wayne Barnes ordered the kick re-taken when the Tigers charged too early. That made it 20-19 and then a late tackle by Genge on Flood saw Takulua kick the penalty for Newcastle to lead 22-20 in the 62nd minute. The lead did not last long with Thompson driven over from a line-out for his second try. Ford's conversion made it 27-22 with the crowd voicing their disapproval over how long it took for the kick to be taken. It looked as if May had sealed the deal with a 72nd-minute try from Ford's cross kick but the referee ruled that Genge had obstructed Hammersley as he went for the ball and the penalty allowed the Falcons to clear. With the clock running down, Newcastle hammered away to win a penalty after 26 attacking phases. They went to the corner with the penalty and looked to have driven Graham over but the referee decided it was held up and awarded Tigers the put in at the scrum. But when the scrum collapsed, it was a penalty to Newcastle, who took it quickly and then did so again when another penalty went their way. But with the clock red, Leicester the won a turnover penalty on their line to all but ensure Premiership survival. ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'}); ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin); ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Press Association Sport staff'); ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '33874d20-907e-414d-9f62-810ad5a241d4'); ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:uk'); ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story'); ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite'); ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null); ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:rugby-union'); ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Leicester ease relegation fears with win over Newcastle'});