Leeds Carnegie have not given up hope of avoiding the drop, according to Stuart Hooper.
Hooper still believes bottom club can turn their fortunes around
Leeds Carnegie have not given up hope of avoiding the drop, according to second-rower Stuart Hooper.
The Guinness Premiership's basement battlers recorded their second victory of the season at home to Newcastle Falcons on Friday night.
Lee Blackett scored the fastest try in Premiership history in the process and despite tries for Jonny Wilkinson and Carl Hayman the hosts held on for the points at Headingley.
The West Yorkshire strugglers are now just 10 points adrift of Worcester with five games of the regular season remaining and Hooper has provided a glimpse of the spirit within the camp.
Morale
"We talked before the game about there being no tomorrow and I'm absolutely chuffed to bits," Hooper told
Sky Sports 1 after the match.
"The preparation in the week was the difference and I'm really pleased.
"It's a great bunch of lads, great coaching staff and we've just got to keep believing."
Next up for Leeds is a trip to Saracens on Sunday March 30, before games against Harlequins, Gloucester, London Irish and Wasps which will decide their fate.
Leeds director of rugby Stuart Lancaster said: "We've picked up early tries in most games but we've not managed to hold on.
"Our second half performance was probably the best this season and that ultimately gave us the win that we deserved.
"We need two or three more wins but it's one game at a time and that has always been the mentality.
"We knew we needed to win tonight - it was a must-win game - and I'm proud of the players."
Spirit
For Newcastle it is a second straight defeat since director of rugby John Fletcher and forwards coach Peter Walton were sacked though.
Caretaker director of rugby Steve Bates added: "I think the spirit is reasonably good considering where we have come from in the last two weeks.
"In terms of performance, I thought it was a big step forward from last week and we just have to be patient with this group of players.
"I thought the commitment, spirit and effort was pretty good and the boys are really disappointed.
"They feel this is a game they probably should have won but you've got to give credit to Leeds. On the balance of the second half, they just deserved to sneak it."
Bates also confirmed that England's Jamie Noon picked up a shin injury in the match.
