Tigers keep the pressure on

Harry Ellis made his return following a 10-month injury layoff as Leicester came from behind to score a 34-21 bonus-point Guinness Premiership win over Leeds at Welford Road.

Out of action since rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in Leicester's Premiership semi-final win over Bristol last May, the scrum-half took his bow as a substitute in the 59th minute.

The home crowd reserved their biggest cheer of the day for Ellis's arrival after having endured the sight of the Premiership's basement side at one stage holding a 13-point advantage.

Scores from Jordan Crane, Tom Varndell and Johne Murphy as well as a penalty try helped overturn the deficit, with another late try from fly-half Ian Humphreys allowing Leicester to close to within two point of leaders Gloucester.

Although the Tigers had Tom Croft and Geordan Murphy back in their XV following Six Nations duty, it was Leeds who scored the opening try of the afternoon after just 56 seconds.

Winning turnover ball straight from the kick-off, Leeds went through half a dozen phases before Fosi Pala'amo went over, with Alberto Di Bernardo adding the extras.

The visitors then stretched their lead on 15 minutes with a Di Bernardo penalty, the same player then making it 13-0 with a drop goal.

Inroads

But Leicester finally started to make inroads on 23 minutes when Crane finished off a push-over try from a five-metre scrum.

The Tigers pulled back to within one point of the visitors just two minutes later when winger Varndell intercepted a Leeds pass on his own 22 and surged past opposing full-back Leigh Hinton to score.

Making a rare start, Humphreys missed the conversion but made amends by kicking a penalty on 32 minutes to put Leicester 15-13 ahead.

The same player could have put Leicester further in front on half time but, with Leeds winger Apo Satala sent to the sin bin for a high tackle on Varndell, Humphreys fell short when sent on a clear overlap.

Leicester asserted themselves immediately after the interval with a resulting penalty try coming six minutes into the second half as Leeds' scrum collapsed.

Di Bernardo briefly offered hope of a Leeds resurgence with his second penalty of the game.

Reward

But Leicester increased their lead to 27-16 - and earned the bonus point - on 53 minutes when Murphy's run down the right wing reaped its reward.

Ellis then made his appearance but the game's best moment was a personal tour de force for Humphreys, who beat six would-be tacklers to score Leicester's fifth try with seven minutes left.

Jonny Hepworth scored for Leeds in the final minute but once again they were left empty-handed.