Speaking after the game, coach Ian Peel said: “A heavy scoreline like that is obviously never good, but we learned a lot about our players tonight.

"Some of our real youngsters stepped up to meet the challenge of a big experienced Leicester side containing a host of full internationals, and while we were denied possession in attack for much of the game we showed superb character in defence.

“I was especially pleased with two of our youngest players from the bench in Grant Beasley and Graeme Dunn, both young forwards who coped well with the Leicester onslaught, while Tim Swinson in the second row continued his run of form among others.

“In the centres Tom Dillon was rock solid in the tackle, our downfall was just the inability to provide set piece possession. We actually defended well and really fronted up despite the scoreline, so from that point of view there were a number of positives to take as a young team learned some valuable lessons about playing at this level.”

On a freezing night with an estimated 7,000 in attendance, it was obvious from the off that the sheer size and experience of the Tigers side would be the difference as they hung on to possession and got front foot ball in the set piece.

Despite game defence from the visitors the deadlock was broken after just five minutes as wing Jack Cobden touched down in the right corner after line out ball from the opposite wing was spun wide, and the hosts grabbed a second not long after as centre Tom Youngs saw the bouncing ball fall in to his lap.

Ian Humphreys added the extras from in front, but a youthful Newcastle side finally found some attack midway through the half as Phil Dawson dummied and broke down the blindside, No.8 Peter Browne freeing runners with a flip pass out of the tackle and scrum half Hall Charlton racing 50 metres through the smallest of gaps.

A try-saving tackle saw Dillon smash winger Vavae Tuilagi in to the advertising boards next to the left corner flag, but with Leicester in full stride replacement scrum half Ben Youngs sped home for their third, closely followed by the bonus point try from Humphreys for a 26-0 interval lead.

A Pumped-up Falcons team came out buoyed for the second half, replacement prop Johnny Williams making an immediate impact with some barnstorming runs while left wing Ben Mercer was within inches of scoring as Browne and Gavin Beasley created the opportunity.

But again it was Leicester who found the crucial penetration, replacement wing Nathaniel Lowes touching down in the right corner as Vesty laid the try on a plate.

Never giving up, the Falcons got due reward for their persistence on 47 minutes as Rob McDermott dived over for a try in the right corner as Adam Dehaty provided the scoring offload, but it was to be the visitors' last points of the night.

In a blistering finish only some crunching tackling denied Ayoola Erinle a try, but the Falcons were soon back under their posts courtesy of a penalty try as a five-metre scrum went down.

The final scoreof the night went to Scottish prop Dave Young as a Tigers scrum saw him pick and go from short range, bringing the curtain down on a brutal but valuable lesson for this young Falcons XV.

Leicester Tigers:

Tries: Tom Youngs, Cobden, Ben Youngs, Humphreys, Lowes, Penalty try, Young
Cons: Humphreys 6

Falcons Development XV:

Tries: McDermott

Leicester Tigers:

15 Sam Vesty
14 Vavae Tuilagi
13 Ayoola Erinle
12 Tom Youngs
11 Jack Cobden
10 Ian Humphreys
9 Christophe Laussucq

1 Alex Moreno
2 Gavin Hickie
3 Dave Young
4 Gregor Gillanders
5 Richard Blaze
6 Tom Croft
7 Ben Herring
8 Brett Deacon

Replacements:

Dan Cole
Greg Sammons
Chris Mundy
Ben Pienaar
Greig Tonks
Ben Youngs
Nathaniel Lowes

Falcons Development XV:

15 Joe Shaw
14 Rob McDermott
13 Tom Dillon
12 Adam dehaty
11 Ben Mercer
10 Gavin Beasley
9 Hall Charlton

1 Robbie Kalbraier
2 Ross Batty
3 Rupert Harden
4 Stuart Walker
5 Tim Swinson
6 Eni Gesinde
7 Phil Dawson
8 Peter Browne

Replacements:

Joe Graham
Johnny Williams
Iain Moody
Graeme Dunn
Grant Beasley
Dom Shaw
Lewis Boyd