Tigers ruin Wilko return

Jonny Wilkinson came through his latest comeback unscathed but was unable to help Newcastle make a match of it as new Guinness Premiership leaders Leicester secured a 39-5 success.

Injury-dogged Falcons fly-half Wilkinson was an impressive performer in a lost cause as he gave England coach Brian Ashton a timely nudge for next Saturday's Calcutta Cup clash against Scotland.

England's World Cup winner, out for 12 weeks with a lacerated kidney, went on for only his fourth appearance of the season in first-half injury time as a replacement for full-back Anthony Elliott.

Toby Flood, the man expected to wear the number 10 shirt for England against Scotland, switched to centre and then to full-back to accommodate Wilkinson, who slotted effortlessly back into his old routine.

Wilkinson could now be ready to put a disappointing three years behind him, with a place on the bench at Twickenham and a first England appearance since his match-winning drop-goal in the 2003 World Cup final.

But that will be of little consolation to Newcastle, whose failure to take even a point from the game leaves them precariously placed near the foot of the Premiership.

Leicester, conversely, were able to make 13 changes to the side that won in Munster and still comfortably claim a bonus-point win to go back to the top of the table.

The highlight for the visitors came in the 26th minute when their England trio of Toby Flood, Mathew Tait and Jamie Noon combined to get Anthony Elliott over for their only try.

Leicester fly-half Paul Burke landed five goals from five attempts and flanker Shane Jennings was driven over for the Tigers' first try before number eight Jordan Crane strolled over.

Prop Marcos Ayerza was driven over for his first try for the club after 59 minutes, and England wing Tom Varndell went over twice in four minutes as Leicester finished well on top.