New-look Newcastle Red Bulls began their season with an impressive 36-24 win against holders Leicester at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
It marked the first senior fixture for new Red Bulls head coach Dan McFarland and a host of players after extensive squad strengthening.
Newcastle had lost their previous nine meetings with the Tigers, but the visitors raced into a 21-0 half-time lead as Will Rigg, Harrison Obatoyinbo and Alex Hearle all crossed inside the opening half-hour.
Leicester replied with second-half scores from Gabriel Hamer-Webb, Archie van der Flier, former Newcastle winger Adam Radwan and Charlie Bemand.
But the visitors kept the Tigers at arms’ length throughout as Werner Kok and Allan Ferrie crossed and Zack Henry added a late penalty to condemn his former employers to back-to-back Pool B defeats.
