Flood wins it for Falcons

England fly-half Toby Flood kicked a last-minute penalty as Newcastle snatched a vital 31-29 victory in their battle against relegation and prevented Leicester going top of the Premiership.

Andy Goode had given Leicester a 16-6 half-time with a try, conversion and three penalties, against two Flood penalties for Newcastle.

After the break, the sin-binning of Jamie Hamilton for killing the ball led to an immediate try for the Falcons through Flood, who converted to make it 16-13.

Ben Woods joined Hamilton in the sin-bin for the same offence in the 51st minute and Goode kicked a simple penalty to put Leicester six points clear. That became 13 when Leon Lloyd scored a close-range try with Goode again converting.

John Rudd then barrelled over for a try and then he chased what looked a lost cause when Loki Crichton kicked long.

Johnny Murphy and Sam Vesty looked to have it covered in the in-goal area but both over-ran the ball, which bounced wickedly and Rudd dived to score a fingertip try which Flood converted for the Falcons to be within a point at 26-25 and when Flood kicked a penalty with five minutes left Kingston Park erupted.

The Falcons fans joy was shortlived as Vesty stepped up to kick a 77th-minute penalty but then, in the last minute, Flood kicked a huge 45-metre penalty from in front of the East Stand to give Newcastle victory.