Gloucester 13 (10) Tries: Mauger, Eustace Pen: Paul Leicester 28 (21) Tries: Lloyd, Smith, Gibson Cons: Goode (2) Pen: Goode (2) DG: Goode

However they had to come from behind as the home side scored two tries in the opening 12 minutes through Nathan Mauger and Adam Eustace.

But Leicester hit back with tries from Leon Lloyd and Ollie Smith while Andy Goode added 11 points with the boot.

Daryl Gibson increased the Tigers' lead and although Gloucester piled forward they could not claw their way back.

Gloucester were dominant in the opening stages and came out firing despite losing fly-half Simon Amor, who failed a late fitness test.

Centre Henry Paul was moved inside to cover and it was his grubber kick that Mauger picked up to score the first try after just four minutes.

Let's be honest, at times, Gloucester were the better team Leicester coach John Wells

Eustace doubled Gloucester's lead soon after but the rest of the half was all Leicester's. Lloyd and Smith both scored as the Tigers pack started to gain a foothold.

With the forwards creating a powerful platform, the impressive Harry Ellis was able to shine at scrum-half to stake his claim for the England number nine shirt ahead of Gloucester rival Andy Gomarsall.

England hit by Corry blow

And Leicester's progress was not even affected by England back-row Martin Corry, who was forced off with a dislocated elbow.

The second half opened with Paul adding a penalty but Gibson's scrambled try on 51 minutes put the Tigers back in charge.

Roared on by their vocal home support, Gloucester threw everything at the Tigers but they could not get past some ferocious defence.

Leicester had Lloyd sin-binned for offside as Gloucester closed in for a try, but the home side could not take advantage.

But despite the win, Leicester coach John Wells was not satisfied with his team's performance.

If you don't take your opportunities, then you are not going to win against teams like Leicester. Gloucester coach John Melville

"We will take the result, but for vast tracts of that game, we were out-played," he said.

"Let's be honest, at times, Gloucester were the better team.

"If we hadn't taken our chances, then we would have been staring at a defeat. We set ourselves standards, we will have to play a lot better against Biarritz next week.

"The good sides look at themselves very critically. We got away with it by playing some good football when we got the ball, and when we sit down and look at this game, we will be very harsh on ourselves."

Gloucester coach Nigel Melville rued his side's missed chances, especially in the second half.

"We scored two early tries, but we probably missed five scoring chances in the second half," said Melville.

"If you don't take your opportunities, then you are not going to win against teams like Leicester. We should have had more out of the game.

"There is a long way to go and we are seeing people coming back from injury, so I am not down about it."

Leicester: Murphy, Smith, Lloyd, Gibson, Varndell, Goode, Ellis, Morris, Chuter, White, M Johnson, Kay, Moody, Back, Corry.
Replacements: Buckland, Holford, L Deacon, W Johnson, Bemand, Cornwell, Vesty.

Referee: D Pearson (RFU)