Leicester Tigers have eased to a 36-17 win over Newcastle Falcons in their opening match of the Aviva Premiership season after Vereniki Goneva scored a hat-trick of tries.

The hosts were unable to find the try line in the first half, but four penalties from Freddie Burns left the Tigers 12-3 up at half time.

Richard Mayhew scored the opening try of the match just 23 seconds into the second half for Newcastle after being picked out by a Sinoti Sinoti pass out wide.

Goneva soon restored Leicester's advantage, scoring his first three minutes later, while Burns set him up for a second shortly after.

Falcons pressed hard to try to reduce the deficit, but Goneva intercepted the ball just five metres from his own line before running the length of the pitch to complete his hat-trick.

Andy Saull added a late consolation for the visitors, but they never looked like getting back into the match.