 | MATCH SUMMARY Leicester 16 (6)
Try: Hamilton
Con: Goode
Pens: Goode (3) Newcastle 16 (9)
Try: Morris
Con: Burke
Pens: Wilkinson, Burke
DG: Wilkinson |
Newcastle were denied victory after the Tigers were awarded two points for a conversion that missed the target. The big talking point came early in the second half when Andy Goode's kick was deemed successful despite drifting wide of the left-hand upright.
Both sides ended the game with 14 men after Julian White and Andy Perry were dismissed for a first-half brawl.
And in a fiery contest, Jonny Wilkinson suffered another injury scare after being clattered by Harry Ellis.
Wilkinson kicked a drop goal and penalty as he completed his first 80 minutes of the season.
But he was left in a heap by Ellis and was also the victim of a high tackle from Goode, who was shown the yellow card for the first-half offence.
The tackle from Ellis looked to have inflicted a lot of damage on Wilkinson's right knee, but the England fly-half eventually got to his feet after treatment.
Controversy erupted after a James Hamilton try had put the home side 11-9 in front.
Goode's conversion missed to the left of the posts but the touch judges decided to award the two points.
Goode added a penalty to make it 16-9 but Newcastle drew level when Robbie Morris went over in the 74th minute and Matt Burke kicked the conversion.
Referee Tony Spreadbury came under fire for his display as the Tigers missed out on top spot in the Premiership.
Leicester boss Pat Howard: "It is disappointing but when we went down to 14 men it was a little bit of a farce to be honest. "Goode's conversion was a number of tough calls on the day. You can whinge about it all you like, it's part of the game. I saw it, yes, it missed, no
problem, but there are plenty of other things.
"It's two points lost but we'll just deal with it and move on."
Newcastle director of rugby Rob Andrew: "I was right behind Goode's kick and from where I was standing it clearly didn't go over. "It was obvious and I couldn't believe it when the flags went up. It's a poor incident, it's a poor decision and it shouldn't happen.
"Whether it cost us the game or not, I'm not prepared to say because there was a lot more rugby after that. It is a wrong decision and it's a fundamental decision that at some point could cost clubs millions of pounds and that's not acceptable."
Leicester: Murphy, Lloyd, Smith, Hipkiss, Varndell, Goode, Ellis, Rowntree, Chuter, White, L. Deacon, Hamilton, Abraham, Jennings, Corry.
Replacements: Vesty for Murphy (50), A. Tuilagi for Varndell (69), Healey for Ellis (69), Morris for Rowntree (29), Cullen for L. Deacon (35).
Not Used: Buckland, Skinner.
Sin Bin: Goode (40).
Sent Off: White (40).
Newcastle: Burke, May, Tait, Mayerhofler, Elliot, J. Wilkinson,Charlton, Ward, Long, Morris, Perry, Parling, Finegan, Harris, Charvis.
Replacements: Noon for May (61), McCarthy for Ward (55), Thompson for Long (67), Gross for Finegan (55).
Not Used: Paoletti, Grindal, Walder.
Sin Bin: Long (40).
Sent Off: Perry (40).
Att: 16,815
Ref: Tony Spreadbury (Bristol).
MMIX
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