RUGBY UNION: Leicester Tigers celebrated a fourth successive title win on Saturday with a 20-12 over Newcastle Falcons, a record for the professional era.

The Tigers started Saturday's game with five current England internationals on the bench and, as Newcastle coach Rob Andrew pointed out last week, the Tigers domestic dominance would not be challenged until at least a couple of their opponents could generate similar strength in depth.

But Leicester struggled to dispose of a defiant Newcastle side, who weathered an early storm and, with Jonny Wilkinson matching Tim Stimpson's four penalties, took the game to the hosts and looked like stealing a shock win until Tuilagi's try 12 minutes from time.

Leicester can now set their sights on repeating their Treble triumph of last term, which would see them becoming the first team to retain the Heineken Cup.

But skipper Martin Johnson brought his team crashing to earth saying: ''It is important not to get carried away because we must improve over the next few weeks if we are to achieve anything else. We have not been anything like top form since January.''

''Once we had beaten Northampton, Gloucester and Bath away we knew the title was in our hands and it's nice to get it wrapped up with three games to go. It is different to anything you can achieve with England, because you train with these guys 40 weeks a year and there is no point doing all the hard work if you are not going to win.''

Johnson is confident Leicester can continue their run of success, even though the likes of Neil Back and Dorian West are nearing the end of their careers.