Dolly blow as Tigers head for top spot
NIC DOLLY suffered a horrific knee injury which looks certain to have wrecked the hooker’s hopes of touring his native Australia with England this summer.
The Sydney-born 22year-old, who was due to take part in a three-day training camp with England which begins today, was left badly hurt following a ‘crocodile roll’ by Adam Brocklebank at the breakdown.
The Falcons prop was sinbinned for the challenge and Dolly, who has enjoyed an outstanding campaign for Steve Borthwick’s side, was carried off on a stretcher.
Tigers boss Borthwick said of the injury to Dolly’s left knee: “It looks like Nic’s been hurt reasonably seriously. We will have to get it scanned ASAP and he will see the best guys to make sure he’s back on the field as soon as possible.
“He’s in pain right now but, as a player, when you understand what the injury is and what the plan for it is, you can start putting targets on your rehab.
“We need to get the clarity as soon as possible, but I know he will work exceptionally hard to come back an even better player.”
The match marked Dean Richards’ final home game in charge of the Falcons and a crowd of 8,015, the biggest at Kingston Park since April 2019, turned out to bid him a low-key farewell.
The uncompromising director of rugby, who could take up a consultancy role at the club, left team affairs and post-match media duties to Dave Walder, who will succeed him in the top job.
Walder, the former Newcastle fly-half, said: “Deano’s been an enormous presence, literally and metaphorically, and kept the club going at times through some pretty tough times on and off the pitch.
“It would have been nice for him to have finished at home with a win.”
Leicester’s hulking Fijian winger Nemani Nadolo showed brute force to barrel through the Newcastle defence to open the scoring and cap the visitors’ bright start.
In the 28th minute, Brocklebank was sinbinned for his challenge on Dolly after intervention from TMO Hamish Smales.
Seven minutes before the interval, Adam Radwan embarked on a searing break inside the right channel before his pass to Joel Hodgson was knocked on by the Falcons fly-half.
Newcastle quickly built several phases inside the Tigers’ 22-metre line, only to be denied by some obstinate defending and held up twice over the line.
The Falcons upped the tempo after the restart and Michael Young’s impish break found Josh Basham, who seemed certain to score only to be denied by George Ford’s terrific saving tackle.
In the 50th minute, however, Newcastle finally scored when George McGuigan, who will join the England squad today with teammate Jamie Blamire, barrelled over in the left corner.
But a penalty from Ford gave Leicester breathing space and the fly-half then sent centre Guy Porter over to score.
Late on, Freddie Steward touched down a clever kick from Ford in the right corner, securing a win which took them a huge step closer towards clinching top spot ahead of the play-offs.