Soccer: Tigers crowned triple champs

Leicester were crowned English League champions for the third successive season after a 51-7 win over Tetley's Bitter Cup winners Newcastle.

But the champagne was placed on ice at Welford Road before it was confirmed closest challengers Wasps had lost.

Dean Richards' side were left waiting to see if they had claimed a hat-trick of Zurich Premiership titles after completing their side of the equation with a ruthless dismissal of Newcastle.

And while the celebrations were put on hold for two hours as Leicester's hopes hinged on the result of the Bath-Wasps clash, the Londoners went down 16-13 at the Recreation Ground to hand the championship to the Tigers.

Leicester overwhelmed Newcastle up front with a powerful forward display that left the visitors struggling to make any sort of impact.

The Tigers' threequarters were also in blistering form with full-back Tim Stimpson bagging a 21-point haul, a tally which included two tries. England flanker Neil Back also touched down twice.

Leicester attacked on the first whistle as they ran the ball from deep in their own half.

They made huge inroads into Falcons territory and eventually won a penalty which Stimpson nudged over.

Newcastle surged forward in the fifth minute as they piled pressure onto the home side but the threat was brought to an end when poor work on their own lineout saw Tigers outside-half Andy Goode clear the ball to safety.

The Midlanders gradually edged their way up field and some quick-fire passing in the 13th minute saw winger Winston Stanley skip between two Newcastle defenders and touchdown for a try.

Stimpson converted and moments later Leicester went further ahead when Goode received the ball from a Falcons' scrum and sprinted over half the pitch before diving over in the corner.

But just as the home side looked set to claim total control, Newcastle hit back with an opportunist try from centre Gareth Maclure which fly-half Dave Walder improved.

However, the Falcons fightback was brought to a close and Leicester struck with two touchdowns - through Back and Stimpson - in the space of three minutes.

Both conversions were added and some sublime handling from the Leicester threequarters saw Stimpson and winger Leon Lloyd charge over to give their side a 39-7 interval lead.

Back notched his second try shortly after the break but Leicester were unable to score as freely as they did in the first half.

Richards made several changes and this took its toll on the Tigers' momentum. But with the game won, Martin Johnson's men could afford to take their foot off the gas.

Substitute Steven Booth claimed the last try of the match with a five-pointer converted by Stimpson to round off a miserable afternoon for Newcastle.