North East | Newcastle Red Bulls suffer narrow defeat against Leicester Tigers

Newcastle Red Bulls 8 – 10 Leicester Tigers

A breakaway try from George Pearson and two assured kicks from Orlando Bailey helped Leicester Tigers edge out Newcastle Red Bulls in a tense encounter.

Author | Sophie T

Stadium | Kingston Park 

In a match that rarely settled into rhythm, a youthful Tigers side showed composure and resilience to secure their third consecutive win in the Premiership Rugby Cup. 

A closer look at how both sides started the game

The visitors started brightly, moving the ball wide with pace and intent, testing the Newcastle defence early on. Will Wand was lively in the opening exchanges, making several half-breaks, while debutant Tonga Kofe and Finn Theobald-Thomas provided strong running from the front row.

Despite Leicester’s early pressure, it was the hosts who struck first. After a pair of penalties, Red Bulls captain Ollie Fletcher powered over from close range inside ten minutes. Newcastle took confidence from the score, enjoying long spells of possession as Leicester were forced to defend deep and concede territory. A series of penalties offered some respite for the Tigers, but they struggled to retain the ball and found themselves on the back foot for much of the half.

As the interval approached, the visitors began to claw back control. Captain Joe Woodward combined neatly with Wand to gain ground, and Kofe once again bulldozed his way through defenders to push Leicester forward. Pearson went close down the flank, only to be bundled into touch, while successive mauls edged Tigers closer without reward. A handling error eventually brought the half to a scrappy conclusion, Newcastle leading 5–0 at the break.

The second-half

Leicester started the second half with renewed energy, driven on by the carries of back-row duo Sam Williams and Joaquin Moro, yet continued to be frustrated by Newcastle’s defence. The Red Bulls looked set to build on their lead after a booming 50:22 from flanker Oli Leatherbarrow, but the match turned on its head when Pearson intercepted a loose pass on his own 22 and raced clear to score in the corner. Bailey’s superb touchline conversion gave Leicester the lead for the first time.

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Ryan Crowley, introduced from the bench, came close to extending the advantage but was held up over the line, and it was Newcastle who next troubled the scoreboard through Brett Connon’s penalty. With the game finely balanced, Tigers turned to their bench once more, debutant hooker John Stewart joining as Crowley again threatened with a break. Bailey kept his nerve to slot another penalty and restore Leicester’s advantage heading into the closing stages.

Newcastle pushed hard for a response, but Leicester’s defence held firm. Ethan Grayson’s late burst was well contained, and as the hosts launched one final attack, the visitors stayed composed, shepherding play into touch to seal a gritty, well-earned victory.