'97 minutes deep – crazy': Leicester verdict on a season-saving win

Dan McKellar was relieved to survive a dramatic finale as his Leicester Tigers side held on for a nervy 19-13 win over Newcastle Falcons on Friday night to keep their Gallagher Premiership play-off hopes alive.

Tigers were reduced to 12 men in the closing stages and had to see out nearly 20 minutes of added time but held on for a win which moved them into fifth place ahead of the remainder of this weekend’s fixtures.

Following defeat to Gloucester in the Premiership Rugby Cup final, a reverse at Kingston Park would have all but ensured that Aussie McKellar’s first season in charge ended without silverware and he knows they will need to be a lot better if they are to reel in the top four.

“I don’t think you’ll see another game like that in any hurry where it’s 97 minutes deep – crazy,” said the Tigers director of rugby. “We get to fight on and continue to play for a spot in the top four and that is what we came here to do.

“I knew our season was on the line and they kept showing up for each other – I’m incredibly proud of the fight and the courage they have shown. We have got to be better in a lot of areas, there is no doubt, but you have also got to give credit to the opposition as well.

“They have made some changes up here and I wouldn’t be looking forward to being (one of the) teams that still has to visit Kingston Park.

“I’m just really pleased that we were good enough in the end to squeeze out a result, knowing that what we produced tonight is not going to be good enough to win us the competition, but it keeps us in the competition.”

England scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet made his return to the Tigers starting line-up for the first time in over 10 months and scored the game’s opening try. He hailed the remarkable final defensive set which got Tigers over the line as a trademark of the club’s resolve.

“This club has been built on fight for as long as it’s been around – the character and fight the boys showed was unbelievable,” said the 22-year-old.

Meanwhile, Falcons consultant director of rugby Steve Diamond was left rueing missed opportunities after his side came up just short in their bid for a first league win of the season. “We did a lot of things right – we were like a kid in a sweetshop in the last 10 minutes,” he said.

“We just didn’t know what play to play to score a try. They are a very workmanlike, streetwise team who know how to slow the game down in those periods when they were down to less than 15, and we didn’t have the ability to score.

“We can pat ourselves on the back as much as we want but in reality, we came for a win and we didn’t get it.”