Rampant Tigers gore Leeds

Reigning champions Leicester ran-in eight tries without reply as they crushed Aviva Premiership strugglers Leeds 48-6 at Welford Road.

Young centre Billy Twelvetrees was forced to start at fly-half after Jeremy Staunton joined Toby Flood on the injury list but Tigers brought back England internationals Dan Cole and Dan Hipkiss.

Former Leicester stalwart Neil Back would have prepared his forwards for a serious test up front but they came off second best in a big way as the hosts produced their best performance of the season.

Tigers had secured the bonus-point by half-time after Leeds stand-off Ceiron Thomas had put his side in front with an early penalty.

Winger Scott Hamilton crossed after just six minutes when he was put in by Matt Smith on the left, and heavy pressure followed leading up to the second try.

After five scrums on the Leeds line number eight Thomas Waldron touched down with Twelvetrees converting, but the visitors did hit back and appeared to score via Lee Blackett, only for the referee to deny the try but award an attacking scrum.

The danger passed for Leicester and they promptly crossed twice in four minutes before half-time after a second Thomas penalty, Waldron handing on to Tom Croft for the third before Alesana Tuilagi scored in the right corner after a fine break down the middle from Twelvetrees.

The pain continued for Leeds when they returned from the interval as wing Tuilagi went over for his second try on 45 minutes following a kick ahead by Hamilton.

And, after Smith was denied a try after a dash down the right, he made no mistake at a straightforward move across the backs from an attacking scrum.

Lock George Skivington pounced for a seventh home touchdown on the hour, and replacement Manu Tuilagi got an eighth and final try.

The only down point for Leicester was that England hooker George Chuter came off early but it looked to be nothing serious.