Leicester Tigers took their revenge for last week's Heineken Cup defeat at Pontypridd with a hard-fought victory in wet conditions at Welford Road.

Western Samoan winger Freddie Tuilagi, playing in his first game for Leicester, made an instant impact following his switch from rugby league.

His new employers looked to use his powerful running at every opportunity as they repeatedly brought him in from the left wing to make large in-roads into the Pontypridd defence.

Leicester's pack, with captain Martin Johnson at the head, were in fine form and it was their work up front which earned Leicester victory.

Pontypridd coach Richie Collins was reasonably happy with his team's performance, despite their defeat.

He said: "We kept ourselves in the game until towards the end, when Leicester stuffed the ball up their jumpers and we didn't see it again after that.

Pontypridd dominated the opening stages of the match and took the lead in the second minute through a Lee Jarvis penalty.

Tigers full-back Tim Stimpson levelled the score three minutes later with a penalty from in front of the posts.

Rampaging

Leicester began to settle and, in the 14th minute, they were awarded a penalty try after some good work from the rampaging Tigers pack.

Stimpson added the conversion before extending his side's lead to 13-3 in the 19th minute with another penalty.

But Pontypridd fought back just two minutes later when some quick ruck ball was spun left to second-rower Robert Sidoli. He out-stripped the Leicester cover to touch down in the corner, but Jarvis missed the conversion.

Stimpson tried his luck with a penalty from deep inside his own half four minutes before half-time, but the kick sailed wide and the Tigers entered the break with a 13-8 lead.

Blow

Ponty were dealt a blow five minutes into the second period when, deep in the Tigers' half, Jarvis saw his kick charged down.

Leicester fly-half and man-of-the-match Austin Healey was the first to react as he punted the loose ball down the field before out-pacing the visitors' defence to touch down in the right corner.

Stimpson failed with a conversion attempt but he added a penalty in the 50th minute to give Leicester a 21-8 lead.

Pontypridd hit back moments later when open side flanker Richard Parks rounded off a fine attacking move by running in for a try in the corner, but Jarvis missed the conversion.

Easy

A hand in the ruck from Pontypridd gave Stimpson an easy penalty chance in the 59th minute, which he kicked to increase Leicester's lead to 24-13.

Jarvis reduced the deficit with a couple of three-pointers in quick succession and, with 12 minutes to go, the visitors looked capable of snatching victory.

But Healey gave Leicester some breathing space in the 74th minute with a drop goal.

Pontypridd's hopes were finally dashed as the Leicester forwards took control of the ball deep in the visitors' half and ground out the remaining minutes of the match.

Scorers - Leicester: Tries: Penalty, Healey. Con: Stimpson. Pens: Stimpson 4. Drop Goal: Healey

Pontypridd: Tries: Sidoli, Parkes. Pens: Jarvis 3

Teams

Leicester: Stimpson, Murphy, Lloyd, Howard, Tuilagi, Healey, Hamilton, Rowntree, Cockerill, Garforth, M Johnson, Kay, Gustard, Back, Corry
Replacements: Goode, Smith, Nebbett, Jelley, Short, Moody, West

Pontypridd: B Davey, L Woodard, S Parker, J Bryant, J Colderley, L Jarvis, P John, C Loader, J Evans, P Graham, B Cockbain, R Sidoli, D McIntosh, R Parkes, M Owen.
Replacements: Neville, C Williams, J Lewis, G Thomas, N Tau, W James, M Lloyd

Ref: David McHugh (Ireland)

Att: 13,913