LEICESTER SNEAK FIRST WIN

Leicester sneaked their first Premiership win of the season in a scrappy encounter at Newcastle.

Ed Slater crossed in the corner for Tigers, after Jimmy Gopperth and Billy Twelvetrees exchanged penalties, before Greg Goosen hit back for the hosts.

James Hudson's try put Falcons ahead after the break but Julian Salvi's try wrestled the lead back for the Tigers.

Luke Fielden won the foot race to score the hosts' third before Steve Mafi went over for the decisive try at the end.

The defeat leaves the Falcons floundering at the bottom of the table and extends their losing Premiership run to 10 games - an unwanted club record.

The two teams were evenly matched in the first half but Twelvetrees misfired with the boot three times to allow the hosts to stay in touch.

Both sides spurned good attacking ball but Slater's try was well worked as the Tigers' quick ruck ball stretched the Falcons' defence right and then left.

With the score at 8-6 to the visitors, Goosen sped through after an equally well-executed move by Newcastle's midfield.

Leicester converted a penalty before half time to tie the scores at 11-11 but Twelvetrees was off target once more after the break and was made to pay when Hudson powered over from short range and Gopperth added the extras.

Leicester dug deep and worked flanker Salvi over the line but Twelvetrees, faced with an elementary conversion, rattled the posts to leave Newcastle 18-16 ahead.

The outside centre made amends on the hour mark with a 22m penalty before the hosts hit back and earned good ground from some fizzing phases and were rewarded with the lead from Gopperth's third penalty.

Fielden narrowly beat George Ford to touch down Gopperth's kick to give Falcons a 26-22 lead but the touchline conversion missed.

Leicester came again and inched their way to the Falcons' line before putting Mafi over in the corner but Twelvetrees missed the conversion.

One point behind and with seconds remaining the hosts manoeuvred Gopperth into position for a drop-goal but the chance was spurned with a pass above his head.

Photos from the Falcons vs. Tigers are now online HERE.

LATE PENALTY CLINCHES IRISH WIN

A late Tom Homer penalty clinched a win for London Irish at Northampton.

A turgid first half saw two penalties from Ryan Lamb give Saints a slim lead with Homer responding for Irish.

Chris Hala'ufia brought the game to life when he cut through the middle of Northampton's defence, allowing Nick Kennedy to go over in the corner.

The Exiles' pack eventually conceded a penalty try after bringing down the scrum once too often but Homer stepped up to deny Saints.

Photos from Franklin's Gardens can be viewed online HERE.

EXETER SUFFER FIRST DEFEAT

Exeter fell to a first Premiership defeat of the season despite a late rally at Bath.

Bath centre Dan Hipkiss lit up a scrappy first half when he sprinted over from 50 metres.

Bath looked to have made sure of the win when Nathan Catt was adjudged to have touched down after video replays.

But courageous Exeter never gave up and forced a penalty try in the dying seconds to claim a point and leave the nervy hosts hanging on for the whistle.

Photos from Bath vs. Exeter can be viewed online HERE.

BEARS DRAW HANDS LANCS TITLE

Warwickshire had to settle for second place in the Championship as they could only draw with relegated Hampshire.

Going into the final day as favourites to lift their first title since 2004, Warwickshire were pipped by Lancashire, who beat Somerset by eight wickets.

Resuming on 43-3, Neil McKenzie (115 no) and Michael Carberry (111) helped Hampshire turn around a 126-run deficit at the start of play to close on 327-7.

Chris Metters (5-115) took the second five-wicket haul of his career.

Warwickshire began the day very much in the driving seat but their main obstacle became McKenzie and Carberry.

The pair, who combined in a record-breaking partnership of 523 against Yorkshire last month, shared a stand of 182 for the fourth wicket.

Carberry's 168-ball innings was finally ended when he was trapped lbw by Chris Woakes, while James Vince hit a six and five fours in making 33.

Sean Ervine joined McKenzie to frustrate Warwickshire and the latter moved to his third Championship hundred of the season after tea from 211 balls.

Metters removed Ervine and Michael Bates in successive balls to reduce the hosts from 316-5 to 316-7, but it was too little too late and the captains shook hands on a draw with Hampshire 158 runs ahead.

Photos from the final day at the Rose Bowl can be viewed online HERE.

DURHAM END SEASON WITH WIN

Durham completed their County Championship campaign with victory over Worcestershire by 151 runs.

The visitors, whose Division One survival was assured on Thursday, began the final day at Chester-le-Street on 65-2, needing 300 more to win.

But spinners Ian Blackwell (3-67) and Scott Borthwick (3-25) shared six of the eight wickets to fall as Worcestershire were all out for 213.

Durham are likely to finish third in the table, with Worcestershire seventh.

Photos from day four at Chester-le-Street are now online HERE.

WARWICKSHIRE NEAR TITLE

Warwickshire took three quick second innings wickets to close in on the Championship title after relegating Hampshire by making them follow on.

Hampshire began day three at The Rose Bowl on 57-0, knowing that they needed five batting points and then had to win to stand a chance of beating the drop.

But they picked up only three in being bowled out for 324, despite Liam Dawson carrying his bat for an unbeaten 152.

Hampshire closed on 43-3 second time around, still 126 runs behind.

It leaves Warwickshire in sight of a first County Championship title since 2004, but, with Lancashire in charge of their clash with Somerset, it is likely they will need to polish Hampshire off and win the game to claim the trophy.

Their advantage might have been even more clear-cut had it not been for the efforts of Dawson, whose century was only the third of his first-class career.

But Warwickshire kept plugging away to enforce the follow-on, with on-loan paceman Chris Wright and left-arm spinner Chris Metters taking three wickets each.

Boyd Rankin soon removed Dawson for 17 in Hampshire's second innings, before Metters struck a potentially crucial blow by dismissing Jimmy Adams and nightwatchman James Tomlinson in successive balls.

Photos from day three at the Rose Bowl can be seen online HERE.

CENTURIONS BOOST BEARS TITLE HOPES

Varun Chopra and Shivnarine Chanderpaul both hit centuries as title-chasing Warwickshire dominated day one against relegation-threatened Hampshire.

The pair put on 188 for the third wicket before Chopra fell just before the close for 109.

But Chanderpaul will resume on 107, his third ton in seven innings for the Bears, with his side 296-3.

Hampshire, who must win to stand a chance of beating the drop, were not helped by dropping five catches.

Photos from day one at the Rose Bowl can be viewed online HERE.