LEICESTER
JONNY MAY produced his golden touch for Leicester once again yesterday as his 10th try in nine games ruined Newcastle’s big day.
The Falcons’ first sell-out crowd for nine years – 10,100 – came in the hope of seeing their side’s fine start to the season extended but instead bore further witness to how well the England wing has settled in the Midlands since his summer move from Gloucester.
May’s 71st-minute try, from a cross-kick by the exemplary George Ford, settled a lively contest at Kingston Park and sent the duo off to the Algarve for an England camp in good heart – and even better form.
“I thought he was going to miss out today but it was a fantastic kick from Fordy off the back of some scrum dominance and he got over the line again, which is pretty pleasing,” said Leicester director of rugby Matt O’Connor.
“He’s doing a great job for us. You can’t score the tries he has scored for us if you’re not working really hard at your game. He’s giving the group an enormous amount of confidence that if we give him the ball, he will get over the paint and he’s doing that for us.
“When I was last here [from 2008-13] I had a couple of very serious conversations about trying to get Jonny to Leicester. He was doing unbelievable things four years ago.
“He had all the makings of a world-class winger at the time and I think he just needed a little bit more structure in his game, a bit better quality of possession and he was always going to be fantastic.
“He’s been great this season. He has got a massive future at the Tigers and internationally.”
The victory took Leicester into third in the Premiership and while it was not as comfortable a win as the score suggests, the composed Tigers were never behind.
Newcastle were bright and breezy but made too many unforced errors.
Leicester opened up a 14-3 lead in the opening quarter. That was largely down to the