Newcastle take big step towards play-offs with Leicester win
Late try from Ally Hogg gives Falcons win
Leicester led 23-13 with 15 minutes left through tries from May and Fitzgerald
Falcons wing Vereniki Goneva scores brace against his old club
Leicester could miss out on play-offs for first time in 14 years
Leicester 23-13 Newcastle
Leicester's scrum is starting to take control here and the Falcons give away another penalty.
George Ford from 42 metres out makes no mistake - he has been superb with that right foot this evening.
Leicester 20-13 Newcastle
Juan Pablo Socino is definitely a centre playing at 10 - the Argentine has kicked another clearance out on the full and invites more pressure on the Falcons.
Image source, Getty Images
Leicester 20-13 Newcastle
Mike Fitzgerald gets the ball over after Sione Kalamafoni got the initial break from five metres. But it's the big second row that forces his way over from a metre out and the Tigers go in front again.
George Ford adds the extras from what is a magic right foot at the moment.
Leicester 13-13 Newcastle
What a kick to the corner by George Ford from a penalty - pinpoint accuracy and Tigers get the shove on from the close lineout.
Leicester 13-13 Newcastle
Hang fire, TMO is reviewing what would have been a great try for Leicester and we go all the way back.
George Ford thought he had scored a try after Newcastle had lost the ball on the Leicester try-line and the home side had run the length of the field.
But a double knock-on when Falcons lost the ball sees a scrum for Leicester five metres from their own line and they kick to safety.
Leicester 13-13 Newcastle
Now it is Newcastle's turn to probe from a deep lineout, but they lose the ball and Leicester have the ball in hand on their own five metre line - George Ford is forced into a hurried clearance and Newcastle can try again.
Leicester 13-13 Newcastle
Great defence from Newcastle. Leicester's maul probes and prods the Falcons, but they stand firm and win a scrum 10 metres from their own try line.
Leicester 13-13 Newcastle
Tigers win a penalty on what is their first scrum of the game - 74 seconds into the half - the exact same time as Vereniki Goneva went over for Newcastle's opening try in the first.
Tigers kick for a lineout deep in Falcons territory.
Leicester 13-13 Newcastle
Juan-Pablo Socino gets the game under way for Newcastle on a wet and murky night in Leicester.
Leicester 13-13 Newcastle
The second half is almost under way - can the Tigers ascendancy continue or will Newcastle get a first win at Welford Road since before the turn of the millennium?
Let us know - #bbcrugby
Leicester 13-13 Newcastle
Leicester have dominated the territory in the first half - 71% of the play has been in the Newcastle half. But the Falcons can take heart from their strong defence - can it carry on after the break?
Away from tonight's game, Hurricanes captain Brad Shields says the chance of touring South Africa with England in June is "out of my control".
New Zealand-born Shields, who qualifies for England through his parents, will join Wasps later this year.
The back-row forward is contracted to the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) until the end of Super Rugby in August, but wants to be released.
"I haven't heard anything yet," said the 27-year-old.
The NZRU says it will make the final decision on Shields' availability, with Hurricanes still facing three regular season matches and potentially three play-off games after the international window.
Hurricanes captain Brad Shields says the chance of touring South Africa with England in June is "out of my control".
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Image source, Getty ImagesWith seven teams all vying for a place in the top four and the post-season bonanza, who do you think will be crowned champions of England for 2017-18?
Will Exeter retain the title, or can Saracens and their panoply of England stars reclaim their crown?
Or will one of the five teams below them cause som,ething of an upset?
Let us know on #bbcrugby via Twitter
Leicester 13-13 Newcastle
The end of an intriguing first 40 minutes at Welford Road. This game means so much to both these sides in the shake-up for the post-season that you think it could well be tight all the way through.
Image source, Getty ImagesLeicester 13-13 Newcastle
Juan-Pablo Socino makes no mistake from the tee and scores a kick for the first time this season. He's 100% for his kicks this year......
Leicester 13-10 Newcastle
Another penalty against Leicester - a third in quick succession - this time for handling the ball on the floor. Another one and someone will go says referee Luke Pearce.
Leicester 13-10 Newcastle
Sinoti Sinoti has a great break but is held up illegally 10m out, but the referee brings it back for a previous offence and Newcastle kick for a five metre lineout. More Falcons pressure...
Leicester 13-10 Newcastle
Ben Youngs, making his first start since being injured for England in the Six Nations, kicks out on the full and Newcastle have the ball in a dangerous area....
Leicester 13-10 Newcastle
George Ford makes no mistake from the 22 metre line as Ben Youngs holds up the ball on the tee.
Tigers lead for the first time in the match.
Leicester 10-10 Newcastle
Leicester pressurising Newcastle once again and winning the ball against the head at the scrum, but Falcons win the ball back on their own five metre line and clear for a Tigers lineout on their own 22.
But the Tigers win a penalty after Graham Kitchener is taken out in the air at the lineout and George Ford eyes the posts for three.....