Tigers roar in Treviso

Leicester overcame a short-lived scare on their way to a bonus-point 60-16 victory at Benetton Treviso.

The Italian side battled back from a 17-3 deficit to get to within a point early in the second half, but the Tigers immediately upped a gear to pull clear once more and ran out comfortable winners.

The Premiership side dominated from the outset but wasted their first two try-scoring opportunities, before Johne Murphy's break up the centre created the chance for Toby Flood to score the opening try on 13 minutes.

Leicester were well on top at the scrum and decided to take a set-piece five minutes later, getting their reward as number eight Jordan Crane showed good control with his feet before dropping on the ball over try-line.

Andrea Mercato had missed two kickable penalties before finally getting Treviso on the board with a penalty just before the half hour.

Pressure

But Leicester continued to threaten and after concerted pressure the ball was shipped out wide into space and Dan Hipkiss' inside pass put Flood over in the right corner for his second try.

The hosts did have the last word of the half with Mercato's second penalty and roared back into the contest in the 10 minutes after the break.

First Mercato cut the deficit once more after good Treviso pressure forced a penalty, then the Italians claimed an impressively-worked try straight from the re-start.

The ball was quickly moved out wide and Marius Goosen broke a couple of tackles before hoofing the ball up the touchline.

Benjamin de Jauger was the quickest pursuer and the ball bounced up perfectly for the winger to collect and score. Mercato added the extras from the touchline and the score was suddenly 17-16.

Less experienced outfits may have panicked, but not the two-time European champions.

Within moments Flood's boot steadied the nerves with a penalty and on 53 minutes they had two-score breathing space once more. Aaron Mauger made the break and his flighted long pass created a score in the corner for Johne Murphy.

Finished

Four minutes later it was Geordan Murphy's turn as the Irishman cut inside from his wing and finished well to become Leicester's top all-time try-scorer in the competition.

The Tigers were rampant by now and Treviso were not helped by the sin-binning of first Dion Kingi for slowing the play, then de Jauger for a head-butt.

The visitors responed with four more tries, firstly as the forwards forced a penalty try and then Crane added his second from another pushover.

Next the backs stepped up, Geordan Murphy gifting Johne a score, then the winger completed his hat-trick in the last minute, turning on the afterburners to scoot in at the corner.