Goode sent off on Tigers' return for croft tackle

A rampant Leicester Tigers ran in seven tries to overwhelm Worcester 43-13 in the Aviva Premiership at Welford Road last night. Worcester's cause was not helped when Andy Goode, their former Leicester and England No 10, was shown a red card in the 35th minute for a clumsy high tackle on England flanker Tom Croft.

The Warriors head coach, Richard Hill, said: "He has let the players down to an extent but you can't blame anyone, it was one of those things. Andy is distraught, he is really disappointed about it and he has apologised to the players."

Sale – who sacked their coach Tony Hanks in the wake of last Friday's abject 45-9 drubbing by Saracens – were on the receiving end again when they went down 22-19 to bottom club Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park.

Fly-half Jimmy Gopperth kicked 17 points for the Falcons, who started the game eight points behind the 11th-placed club, Wasps, and 16 points adrift of safety. Lock Tim Swinson scored a try for the Falcons while Rob Miller, James Gaskell and Johnny Leota touched down for Sale.

Northampton are considering an appeal against the 32-week suspension imposed on flanker Calum Clark, who was respon-sible for leaving Leicester's Rob Hawkins with a broken elbow during the Anglo-Welsh Cup final.