The game threatened to be overshadowed by the news on Friday night that Toby Flood, Ben Woods and Mathew Tait will leave this summer, the former pair probably to our visitors from the Midlands, and it was amusing to arrive at KP to see a coach with “Woods of Leicester” emblazoned on the side. Rubbing it in or what?

Woods took his place in the back row alongside Ross Beattie and rejuvenated captain Phil Dowson, Beattie making his second home debut for the Falcons, with Geoff Parling moved to the second row in the absence of the named Andy Buist. Of more concern was an unlikely and inexperienced centre pairing of Tim Visser and Tom Dillon, but the latter especially had a superb game in the backs.

Within two minutes Jonny Wilkinson had put the Falcons ahead with a penalty, and Andy Long extended the lead with a converted try from close range.

However, before ten minutes was up Jordan Crane had hit back despite looking like he had dropped the ball whilst looking to touch down, and Andy Goode converted the score.

A second penalty from Wilkinson settled the nerves a little, as both sides put together some impressive play and fought hard for their respective prizes - pride for us, points for Leicester and as many as they could get. Marco Wentzel took things a bit too seriously however and received a yellow card, for what I can’t remember (it was a long night!)

Just after the half hour Tom Varndell scored on the left, though Goode missed the opportunity to put Leicester ahead for the only time in the game. This was answered by Dowson storming over from a scrum just before the break, sending us into half time 20-12 up thanks to some strong defence and purposeful attacking, John Rudd having one of his better games of the season on the left.

Despite conceding a penalty early in the second half, Tait took us ten points ahead, rounding off a break from our half with a fast charge down the right. It wasn’t Spud of course but Tom May, another strong performer, and the announcer did correct himself.

Despite missing the conversion, Wilkinson knocked over another penalty on a day of mixed fortunes with the boot, before man of the match James Grindal was sin-binned and replacement Sam Vesty reduced his side’s deficit with a penalty.

Leicester were now looking quite dangerous, and a second try by Varndell, converted by Vesty, gave us another nail-biting finish to follow on from last year’s stressful meeting with the Tiggers.

The Falcons defended heroically as the time ran down so slowly. I and many others I suspect couldn’t watch, yet couldn’t turn away from the compelling finish, and with play tight on our line and the clock at zero, the whistle blew and a few cheers went up.

Dang, Leicester had scored the try they needed. But no! It was the final whistle, and players and fans celebrated a much-needed and heroic victory.

Where that performance came from after the last two months I have no idea, but well done to the team for restoring some pride and probably making up a few fans’ minds re. season ticket renewal too. It’s so typical of our team to lose seven games in a row, then go and beat a top team with a great performance.

Congratulations to everyone involved and thanks from all of us supporters. This is what we can achieve when the players are up for it, the fans back them and we all pull together. Let’s see if we can’t repeat this on Wednesday against Wasps, and really see out the home season in the style in which we opened it in September.

And well done to the Supporters’ Club player of the season too. There was only ever one man going to win it, and here he is: Mark Sorenson, who will thankfully not be one of those leaving this summer.

Thanks to Mark H for the pictures, which are copyright of Mark and Falconsrugby.org.uk.