Moro helps Leicester to bonus-point win at Newcastle

Kingston Park’s The Prem

Red Bulls of Newcastle (10) 17

Cons: Connon 2 Pen: Connon

Tigers of Leicester (17) 39

Tigers of Leicester defeated winless Red Bulls of Newcastle to return to prem action with two tries, thanks to Joaquin Moro.

Before Moro, the Tigers’ Argentinian number eight, saw space at the breakdown and launched a 30-metre run into it, Flanker James Thompson scored the visitors’ first try at Kingston Park.

After the break, England fullback Freddie Steward added a third try before Moro burst through the defense once more from distance to add the extra point.

Tommy Reffell had a minute to give the visitors a fifth score.

Tigers finished fourth in the table after their fourth win of the season, beating fifth-placed Saracens on Sunday in a game that featured only 55 minutes.

Before Adam Radwan darted up the right wing and Tigers almost reached the line, Thompson dived over for his first Prem try, scoring from Billy Searle’s penalty, Leicester was on the board.

After having a high tackle on Grayson, Hassell-Collins was sin-binned, and Newcastle took advantage of this by getting their first points when a scrum penalty made it possible for fly-half Brett Connon to float a pass into space for Grayson to sneak in.

However, Radwan claimed the restart and that Moro was able to march to the line because Newcastle did not defend the following breakdown.

Before Tigers extended their lead with a third try from their first meaningful attack, the second half was played between the 22s.

With a penalty on hand, Searle sent a cross-kick past Hassell-Collins, who sprinted to the 22, and then threw the ball to the opposite wing where Radwan’s powerful pace almost made it to the line, which they recycled and gave Steward a walk-in under the posts.

Newcastle had a chance to regain control of the situation when Connon delivered a superb penalty from seven meters out before conceding a lazy penalty for obstruction at the line-out.

Eight minutes later, the Tigers secured victory with a bonus-point try.

Before Moro arrived from the bench with a sharp line to intercept a pass and run in from 30 meters, James O’Connor perfectly timed his offload to send Hassell-Collins up the left wing.

Alan Dickens, the head coach at Newcastle, told BBC Radio Newcastle:

There were numerous positive aspects. We’re using our backs to create opportunities and create moments where we’re on the edge. We need to be patient and take those chances.

We’ve been working on our set piece, and we were completely satisfied with the line-out tonight.

“We’re working toward that, bringing every aspect of our game together, and putting together a strong team,” he said.

Geoff Parling, the head coach at Leicester, told BBC Radio Leicester:

“Defensively some of our collision work in the first half was excellent, some of the best it’s ever been,” said Defensive.

However, they were misguided and not as accurate as they wanted to be in the set piece, which made it possible for them to enter the game.

Replacements: Chamberlain, Chamberlain, Rewcastle, Palframan, de Chaves, Neild, Bentez Cruz, Chamberlain, and Gordon

Leicester: Steward, Radwan, Wand, Bailey, Hassell-Collins, Searle, Whiteley, Smith, Blamire, Heyes, Henderson, Thompson, Liebenberg (c), Reffell, Moro,

Replacements: Woodward, Clare, van der Flier, Loman, Wells, Manz, Allan, O’Connor, and Woodward.

Hassell-Collins receives a yellow card.