Jamie Noon inspired Newcastle to a crucial win over defending champions Leicester.

Newcastle's Epi Taione is tackled by Leicester's Leon Lloyd

Noon, a member of the England squad, consistently made incisive runs into the Leicester defence and was rewarded with a 57th-minute try.

His performance was that good it surpassed that of England skipper Jonny Wilkinson, who kicked 14 of Newcastle's points.

Michael Stephenson also crossed for the home side while Steve Booth and Dorian West touched down for Leicester, whose cynical display won them few fans in the Kingston Park crowd.

They infringed repeatedly but often escaped the attention of referee Tony Spreadbury, who also sent Newcastle's Mark Andrews and Andrew Mover to the sin-bin.

SCORING Newcastle (13) 24 Tries: Stephenson, Noon Cons: Wilkinson Pens: Wilkinson 3 Drop goal: Wilkinson Leicester (10) 22 Tries: Booth, West 2 Cons: McMullen, Booth Pens: Booth

Half-chances were created at both ends at the start and the first try arrived in the 15th minute when Josh Kronfeld carved open the Falcons' defence with a neat side-step.

His run was halted five metres short of the Newcastle line but the Tigers were awarded a scrum which they used to good effect with Smith spinning the ball to the onrushing Booth who sped over.

Craig McMullen added the conversion but Newcastle then racked up 13 unanswered points to push them into the lead.

Two Wilkinson penalties sandwiched a sublime piece of individual skill from winger Stephenson, who took an inside pass from Hugh Vyvyan before chipping over Booth and winning a race to the line to touch down.

It was a very good game of rugby, very physical and a bit spicy at times Falcons director of rugby Rob Andrew

After Wilkinson's successful conversion, Booth made slight amends for his earlier defensive shortcomings by booting a long-range penalty which just brushed over the crossbar.

Noon was enjoying a fine afternoon and his try-saving tackle on Leon Lloyd ensured Newcastle finished the first half with their slender three-point lead intact.

Wilkinson struck a drop-goal six minutes after the interval and Leicester were dealt a further blow with the loss of Lloyd and England centre Smith in quick succession, with both players hobbling off injured.

The Falcons continued to threaten and Noon scored a deserved try when he chipped over Booth and outstripped Freddie Tuilagi to touch down.

Leicester made the finale a tense one with two tries from hooker West, but another Wilkinson penalty sandwiched in between gave the Falcons some deserved breathing space.

Newcastle: Shaw, May, Noon, Mayerhofler, Stephenson, J Wilkinson, Grindal, Peel, Makin, Hurter, Andrews, Grimes, Taione, Mower, Vyvyan. Replacements: Charlton, MacLure, Godman, Ward, Hamilton, Dowson, Thompson.

Leicester: Murphy, Lloyd, Smith, Kafer, Tuilagi, McMullen, Tierney, Freshwater, West, Tournaire, M. Johnson, Deacon, Corry, Kronfeld, Balding. Replacements: Rowntree, Back, Garforth, Kay, J. Hamilton, Booth, Vesty.