Andy Key now has two Premiership wins under his belt with Leeds

Director of rugby Andy Key paid tribute to his Leeds Carnegie squad after Sunday's dramatic 16-15 win at Newcastle Falcons.

The win keeps Leeds in touch with their relegation rivals and just three points behind Bath, who they play next.

"You have got to give the players a massive pat on the back because they set the high standards," Key told BBC Radio Leeds.

"But we know we have to take that into the New Year and get more wins."

Key added: "This win was a rewarding experience. The guys have shown a lot of character and maturity, so big credit to them."

The former head of rugby development at Leicester also praised his side's battling spirit, with Carnegie's Ceiron Thomas and Alfie To'oala both playing through injuries and Seru Rabeni suffering from a sickness bug.

"Poor old Seru was being sick prior to the game in the changing room toilets.

"He's picked up some sickness and diarrhoea, which we've had with a couple of players in the camp.

"Credit to him because he was outstanding in this game, especially in the first-half with some of the things he did to get us on the front foot.

"In the second-half that illness just got to him a bit so we took him off."

Key continued: "Alfie has just turned the same ankle that he hurt a few weeks ago.

"Ceiron hurt his ribs last week in our European game last week and the medical staff did an outstanding job to get him on the field to start.

"Then he took a bang in the game on the ribs and wasn't fit to carry on, but when you have some one like young Joe Ford on the bench then we have no problems making such a change."

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