Tigers go second after mauling

Former England fly-half Andy Goode was sent off as Leicester ran-in seven tries in a 43-13 rout of Worcester at Welford Road.

Goode, who had already spent time in the sin-bin, received a straight red card in the 35th minute from referee Wayne Barnes for a flying shoulder charge on England flanker Tom Croft.

Leicester, who were leading 10-3 at the time, took full advantage of the extra man and scored tries through Scott Hamilton, George Chuter, Croft, Martin Castrogiovanni, Thomas Waldrom, Tom Youngs and George Ford.

Toby Flood kicked three conversions, and Ford one, while Ceri Jones scored a try for Worcester, converted by replacement Danny Gray. He and Goode also slotted penalties.

Leicester's sixth win in seven games moved them up to second place in the Aviva Premiership ahead of champions Saracens who meet leaders Harlequins on Saturday.

Tigers' former England prop Julian White, who is retiring at the end of the season, paraded the LV= Cup for the 21,000 strong crowd before the match which started well for Worcester.

Goode kicked a monster penalty from near halfway but after that it was all Leicester, who made it clear they wanted a bonus point win by refusing chances at goal and kicking for touch instead.

Stranglehold

After a lengthy stoppage while the medics treated Worcester lock Chris Jones, Leicester's forwards took a real stranglehold on the game but due to their own errors and good scrambling defence by Worcester they failed to make their dominance count.

Waldrom came closest in the 16th minute when he pounced on a loose ball from a line out but was hauled down by Kvesic inches from the line.

Goode, however was sin-binned for a professional foul and Leicester took advantage of the extra man a minute later when Flood spotted the Worcester backs had come up too flat and put an inch-perfect kick for winger Scott Hamilton to score.

Flood missed the conversion and another one in the 30th minute after hooker Chuter scored from close range after Worcester spilled hard won line-out ball.

Things went from bad to worse for Worcester when Goode was dismissed and was booed by the fans of his former club as he walked off the pitch with his head bowed.

Respite

Ironically, it was Croft who scored Leicester's third try three minutes from half time after a turnover and some fine inter-passing by the backs.

Worcester replacement Gray kicked a penalty shortly after the break but it proved a minor respite as fierce Leicester pressure led to a try for Italy prop Castrogiovanni, converted by Flood.

Worcester's high penalty count did little for their cause and three in quick succession allowed Leicester to escape their own try line and score direct from a line out though Waldrom, with Flood adding the conversion.

Replacement hooker Tom Youngs scampered over for Leicester's sixth try after good work by former Worcester lock Graham Kitchener. George Ford, who had replaced Flood, missed the conversion.

Tuilagi was sin-binned for punching Ed Shervington in the 81st minute before Jones scored a last-minute consolation try for Worcester, converted by Gray.