Leicester comfortably ensured their passage into the next round of the Powergen Cup with a professional second-half performance against Worcester.

The Tigers were matched by their lower division opponents for the opening 40 minutes, going into the interval 12-9 ahead.

But from there they made their superiority show, adding 24 unanswered points against an overwhelmed Worcester.

I don't think the gulf between the leagues is that wide - Worcester caused us problems Dean Richards Leicester coach

Leicester boss Dean Richards left out seven of the side that thrashed Beziers in the Heineken Cup last weekend.

That did little to dampen their enthusiasm as they made none of the blunders which blighted the early part of their season.

Leon Lloyd moved the Tigers ahead after nine minutes as he chased down his own kick from the 22 for a try.

George Chuter added a second when he pounced in a melee of forwards on Worcester's line.

To their credit, the Division One side refused to buckle and were kept in the game by the boot of Australian fly-half Tim Walsh with three penalties.

Worcester had clear chances to take the lead when Leicester's Will Johnson was sin-binned for a professional foul.

Ben Hinshelwood made use of the additional space with a jinking break but Nnamdi Ezulike unsuccessfully went for the glory rather than make use of the players around him.

I don't think anyone could argue we didn't deserve to score a try Worcester director of rugby John Brain

Worcester's player advantage was shortlived when flanker Neil Mason was sin-binned for use of the boot in the ruck.

They eventually fell apart when Peter Short crossed for Leicester's third try, finding space at a line-out deep in Worcester territory.

Wing Ollie Smith was the next man on the scoring sheet with arguably the best try of the afternoon.

Smith showed unnerving pace to scorch down the left flank and pave the way for a 20-point lead.

Flanker Adam Balding completed the victory as he barged his way over 20 minutes from time and, despite their best efforts, Worcester were out of answers.

Leicester: Booth, Smith, Lloyd, Gelderbloom, Tuilagi, Vesty, J. Hamilton, Chuter, Garforth, Short, Deacon, Tournaire, Corry, Balding, W. Johnson.
Replacements: Nebbett, Abraham, M. Johnson, West, Tierney, Holtby, Kafer.

Worcester: Southwell, Ezulike, Hinshelwood, Ogilvie-Bull, Garrard, Walsh, Swanepoel, Windo, Hall, Olver, Zaltzman, Morgan, Bates, Nias, Jenner.
Replacements: O'Reilly, Chalmers, Richardson, Pearl, Psister, G. Mason, Lyman.

Referee: Roy Maybank (RFU)