Tigers maul Falcons and move up

Leicester moved into second place in the Guinness Premiership with a 41-14 dismissal of Newcastle at Welford Road.

The Tigers got off to a flyer with two tries inside the opening 12 minutes from Martin Corry and Jordan Crane, while Andy Goode outscored Jonny Wilkinson with the boot by 21 points to nine.

Goode's kicking haul included 17 points in the first half which helped Leicester cruise into a 27-9 interval lead - and they went on to wrap up a third successive league win and a bonus point.

Julian White was missing for the Tigers after being given a seven-day ban by the club following last week's yellow card against Leinster.

Big guns

But the hosts welcomed back big guns Martin Corry, Lewis Moody, George Chuter, Ben Kay and Aaron Mauger following last week's Heineken Cup crushing of Leinster.

Newcastle have won just once in their previous 10 visits to Welford Road and that was back in 1997, but there was reason for the Falcons to travel south with a degree of confidence following last week's 15-try demolition of Spanish champions Cetransa El Salvador.

Former England captain Corry marked his return to the side by opening the scoring in the fourth minute. He took a long pass on the left, brushed off a challenge and charged through unopposed from 20 metres before touching down in the left hand corner.

Goode missed the conversion from near the left-hand touchline but Wilkinson registered Newcastle's first points with a sixth minute penalty.

Goode was struggling with his kicking at the outset and screwed wide a penalty attempt on eight minutes, but the second try for Tigers followed three minutes later.

Jordan Crane used Tom Varndell as a decoy outside him to crash over and Goode added the extras to make it 12-3 after 12 minutes.

Wilkinson and Goode swapped penalties in the space of the next six minutes to leave the score 15-6 at the end of the opening quarter.

Goode added another penalty in the 23rd minute to put Tigers 12 points clear and added another six minutes later as the hosts' dominance was rewarded .

Wilkinson replied in the 31st minute and then two Goode penalties in the space of four minutes made it 27-9 at the interval.

Bonus point

Newcastle looked like they were back in the game three minutes after the restart and Toby Flood's try, but Leicester grabbed their third try two minutes later through Johne Murphy and Goode's conversion made it 34-14.

The winning bonus point was secured on 52 minutes when a catch and drive ended with Marcos Ayerza touching down and Goode converted.

From there on in the Tigers were prepared to cruise towards full time, safe in the knowledge of a job well done.

But some of the gloss was taken off Goode's afternoon when he was yellow carded with 13 minutes left following a high tackle.