Leicester edge Newcastle 24-19 to claim first win of season

Leicester Tigers earned their first victory of the season by beating Newcastle Red Bulls 24-19 at Kingston Park on Saturday. According to BBC Sport, Adam Radwan scored against his former club as Leicester ended a six-match winless sequence across all competitions, stretching back into last season.

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Newcastle struck first through Obi Ene, but Samiuela Moli and Radwan crossed before half-time. Billy Searle converted both tries and added a penalty for a 17-5 lead. Radwan's finish followed a grubber kick from Freddie Steward, while Moli scored from a driving maul.

George McGuigan's try brought Newcastle closer before Will Hurd's quick-tap score and Searle's conversion restored Leicester's cushion. Cameron Jordan then crossed, with Zack Henry converting to make it 24-19. BBC Sport reported that Newcastle's final attack ended with a holding-on offence, allowing Leicester to kick the ball out and secure victory.

The result followed a narrow opening-round defeat for the Tigers. TNT Sports' results listing records their previous league match as a 40-38 loss to Saracens, leaving them looking to turn a close contest into a win this time. Their starting back line at Newcastle included Searle and Jack van Poortvliet at half-back, with Steward at full-back and Radwan on the wing.

For Newcastle, the meeting offered a different outcome from the clubs' recent cup encounter. The Red Bulls' official fixture record shows that they won 36-24 at Leicester in the PREM Rugby Cup on September 12. That away success had preceded a difficult league opener: Newcastle lost 59-26 to Northampton Saints at Franklin's Gardens on September 25. Saturday's five-point margin was considerably narrower, but again left them without a league win.

Newcastle's published schedule now takes them away from Kingston Park for their next two fixtures. They are due to visit Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park on October 11, followed by an EPCR Challenge Cup trip to Scarlets on October 17. Their next scheduled home league game is against Sale Sharks on October 23.