Round-up: Mafi gives Tigers first victory

Leicester won for the first time in this season's Aviva Premiership yesterday, 27-26 away to Newcastle. Last year's beaten finalists (the Tigers) and this year's favourites to be relegated (the Falcons) scored three tries each, but four penalties from Billy Twelvetrees beat three penalties and a conversion by Jimmy Gopperth.

Steve Mafi scored the winning try, four minutes from the end; Ed Slater and Julian Salvi also scored tries. James Hudson, Greg Goosen and Luke Fielden scored for Newcastle.

At the Stoop, Harlequins beat Gloucester 42-6. Sam Smith, Luke Wallace (twice), Ugo Monye and Chris Brooker scored tries; Nick Evans kicked 12 points and Rory Clegg kicked a five. Freddie Burns kicked two penalties for Gloucester.

Quins' director of rugby, Conor O'Shea, said, slightly gnomically: "We won't be getting carried away any time because our next job is our next minute."

At Franklin's Gardens, a late penalty from the wing Tom Homer gave London Irish a 14-13 win over Northampton. Adhering to the day's trend for impenetrable quotes, the Exiles' head coach, Toby Booth, said: "There is a real adrenalin injection from winning a game. The Premiership is unrelenting, it's like a juggernaut out of control, but it was a fantastic victory."

Nick Kennedy scored a try for Irish and Homer kicked nine points; Saints were awarded a penalty try, converted by Steve Myler, and Ryan Lamb kicked two penalties.

At the Rec, Bath beat Exeter 23-19. Dan Hipkiss and Nathan Catt scored tries for Bath and Sam Vesty kicked both conversions and three penalties. Ignacio Mieres kicked four penalties and the conversion of a last-minute penalty try that gave the Chiefs a bonus point.

In the RaboDirect Pro12, the Ospreys beat Treviso 32-27 in Italy.