Aviva Premiership: Vereniki Goneva helps Leicester to a 36-17 win over Newcastle

Leicester's efforts to persuade Vereniki Goneva to stay paid off handsomely when the Fijian blew away Newcastle with a 17-minute hat-trick on the opening day of the Aviva Premiership season.

Goneva, a target for French side Castres at the end of last season, decided to stay after lengthy talks and repaid the club's faith in him with tries in the 44th, 50th and 61st minutes to lead Leicester to a 36-17 win.

Leicester scored four tries altogether in front of a crowd of 22,639, Newcastle responding with two from Richard Mayhew and Andy Saull.

It meant a disappointing return to Leicester for Falcons' coaching staff Dean Richards and John Wells, who have overhauled their squad dramatically after just avoiding relegation last season.

Leicester had much the better of a disappointing first half, with wing Goneva and giant prop Logovi'i Mulipola coming the closest to scoring.

Newcastle lost prop Rob Vickers with a leg injury after just 13 minutes, which did not help their scrum.

Freddie Burns put the Tigers 6-0 ahead before Sinoti Sinoti pulled three points back for Newcastle, only for penalties in the 28th and 36th minutes by Burns to ensure Leicester turned round with a nine point cushion.

Good moves were few and far between but the best came close to half-time – only for Leicester winger Blaine Scully to spill the ball on the right touchline.

The match exploded into life before the Falcons' coaching staff had time to take their seats for the second half.

Counter-attack

After just 30 seconds, Burns missed touch with his clearance and winger Sinoti countered, putting full-back Simon Hammersley through a massive hole, with flanker Mayhew finishing it off.

Sinoti added the conversion but Newcastle did not time to enjoy the try because three minutes later Leicester scored their first after the referee consulted the TMO.

England centre Manu Tuilagi created it with a barnstorming run, throwing the ball backwards in the tackle and seeing it bounce forward off a defender for Goneva to pounce on the loose ball to score.

Burns missed the conversion but Leicester's 17-10 advantage increased by seven points within six minutes after Goneva scored under the posts following great work by Burns following a ruck near the posts. Burns added the conversion.

Falcons' replacement Gonzalo Tiesi had alarm bells ringing in the Tigers defence with a mazy run but the move broke down when Furno was penalised at a ruck in front of the posts.

Another chance went begging for the visitors when centre Juan Pablo Socino knocked on after a mazy run across the posts by Sinoti.

The Falcons shot themselves in the foot to hand Goneva a 17-minute hat-trick on a plate. Replacement scrum-half Ruki Tipuna's pass on the Leicester line was intercepted by Goneva, who outpaced the chasers and ran 95 metres for a try which Burns converted to make it 31-10.

Five minutes later it was 36-10 after replacement scrum-half David Mele scored a pushover try. Burns missed the conversion.

Replacement Saull scored Newcastle's second try nine minutes from time after a rolling maul, Socino adding the conversion.