MATEO CARRERAS scored a first-half hat-trick as Newcastle Falcons blitzed Leicester Tigers 45-26 in their first Gallagher Premiership clash of 2023.

The Argentinian’s contribution – along with a Callum Chick try – came in a blistering opening 40 minutes at Kingston Park, with Ben Youngs’ score the only bright point for the blunt visitors.

Ollie Chessum went over after the break for the Tigers to reduce the deficit, but a Brett Connon penalty and tries from Jamie Blamire and Matias Moroni ensured a thoroughly-deserved victory for the home side despite late Jimmy Gopperth and Sean Jansen efforts, which earned a bonus point for Leicester.

It was the hosts who found the breakthrough on 14 minutes – Carreras finished a wonderful move from right to left and Connon added the extras to give his side a seven-point lead.

Things got worse for the champions when Freddie Steward was sent to the sin-bin for blocking Carreras a minute later, but they held firm against the storm from the Falcons.

The Argentine was proving a huge thorn in the Tigers’ side – he almost grabbed a second try on the left wing when he chipped the ball forward to run onto, but was deceived by the bounce.

It did not take long for the score to come, however, as Chick drove under the posts on 27 minutes to leave Connon with the simplest of conversions.

The visitors did manage to claw one back before the interval when Youngs crossed in the corner after a pick-and-go, but Charlie Atkinson failed to convert a tricky opportunity from the touchline.

Carreras then claimed his second try on 36 minutes after receiving the ball from Connon 20 metres out – the 26-year-old duly added the extras.

And the wing wizard claimed a first-half hat-trick after a lung-busting breakaway 80 metres from the posts, earning his side a bonus point.

The Tigers thought they had grabbed another try after a series of penalties – and the sin-binning of Greg Peterson – in added time when Charlie Clare went over at the fifth time of asking, but TMO ruled it out.

They rectified that within two minutes of the restart when Chessum found a way through on the right side, and Atkinson converted to reduce the arrears.

Connon slotted a 30-metre penalty home for the hosts on 46 minutes to give them a 19-point lead, before Blamire added another try ten minutes later.

Tommy Reffell was sin-binned for Leicester in the 68th minute for head contact, but they did go over again through Gopperth after a quick tap.

Moroni then raced through the Tigers’ defence before Jansen ensured that the visitors would head home with something to show for their efforts despite suffering consecutive defeats on the road.

“I think the pleasing thing was our attitude from one to 23, from the start to the end,” said Falcons head coach Dave Walder.

“We fought really well at key moments when the game was in the balance. I thought we were composed, but our attitude and our fight was absolutely bang on.

“We played the game in the right areas, controlled the tempo that we wanted to play at, and our defence was pretty comfortable making decisions across the board.

“Our forwards have been fronting up week in, week out and they gave us a great platform to play off."