Event of the Day: Newcastle Falcons versus Leicester Tigers

Our event of the day is the Premiership Rugby fixture between Newcastle Falcons and Leicester Tigers at Kingston Park in Newcastle. A crucial match for the two teams near the bottom of the table, both sides will be looking for a win. Newcastle currently sit in the relegation zone and will want to help the so-called Great Escape with a win today while Leicester will look to secure their safety. With so much on the line, be sure you tune in for this exciting match. With four games left in the season, time is running out for the Newcastle Falcons’ Great Escape. They are last in the Gallagher Premiership and are three points away from safety. This is Newcastle’s sixth season in the Premier League after winning the RFU Championship at the end of the 2012-13 season but without a strong finish, they will find themselves back in the second tier of English rugby. This season has seen a long fall from their fourth place finish last season. However, the team is still coming to terms with the loss of Rob Vickers, Scott Lawson and Allister Hogg, who all retired at the end of the 2017-18 season. They come into today’s fixture having had a three-game winning streak snapped by Saracens last weekend. With Leicester on a three-game losing streak, Newcastle may be able to rise above Worcester if they win and Worcester lose to Sale on Saturday. After Leicester, Newcastle will have to battle through against playoff-hunting Northampton, high-flying Gloucester and the middling Bristol Bears. This schedule makes beating Leicester all the more important.

However, despite the crucial nature of the match, Falcons fans will be giving a warm home welcome to Rodney Ah You. The former Irish international will make his home debut after his first appearance for the club last week. Lining up against the Falcons are the tenth-placed Leicester Tigers. They are five points above Newcastle but travel to Kingston Park on a three-game losing streak. Despite their 6-12 record, Leicester average 21.6 points a game and have the league’s top points scorer in George Ford as well as the joint second-highest try scorer in Jonny May. That said, they have statistically the worst defence in the league, having allowed 532 points. Leicester finish the season against Bristol, Harlequins and Bath. No-one would have ever imagined that the rugby powerhouse of Leicester would ever be involved in a relegation scrap but the possibility is very real. This match is crucial to the survival of both teams in the Premiership. Be sure you don’t miss it.

Honourable mentions around the globe go to the NHL Playoffs where the New York Islanders host the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Nassau Coliseum for game 2 of their first round playoff series. New York lead 1-0 after a thrilling overtime win on Wednesday. After a closely-contested back and forth match, it was veteran right wing Josh Bailey, who has been with the Islanders since 2008, who managed to slot the winning goal past Matt Murray four minutes into overtime. The Penguins will look to bounce back tonight in a match you won’t want to miss. Elsewhere, in the Indian Premier League, the Kolkata Knight Riders host the Delhi Capitals at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.The Masters continue at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. In MLB, the Minnesota Twins begin a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers at Target Field. On the ATP tour, the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship continues at the River Oaks Country Club in Houston, Texas.

Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!

Fixture

Photos by Premiership Rugby

 

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