Leicester 15 (8) Tries: A Tuilagi, Abraham Con: Broadfoot Pens: Vesty London Irish 6 (3) Pens: Everitt (2)

Leicester made light of being without nearly an entire team of internationals by returning to winning ways and adding to London Irish's relegation fears.

Alesana Tuilagi claimed the game's first try, after good work by Austin Healey, before turning provider to set up Luke Abraham for a late clincher.

Poor weather conditions made it hard for either side to play flowing rugby.

Rodd Penney's knock-on having crossed the line and Barry Everitt's penalty against the post proved costly errors.

After the game, Tigers head coach John Wells paid tribute to his young side, who were missing 10 senior players, and lost Neil Back to injury in the first half.

"That was more or less a full strength Irish side," he said.

"For us to get a win says a lot about the squad and the spirit within it despite losing at Northampton.

"I was particularly happy with Luke Abraham.

"He came strong in the last 15 to 20 minutes and got himself in the right place to score his first try for the club."

Exiles coach Gary Gold admitted his side had wasted opportunities as they slipped to their sixth defeat in eight league games.

"You don't get many chances to win here so when you get them you have got to take them," admitted Gold. "Leicester took theirs but we didn't take ours."

Leicester: Vesty; Hipkiss, Lloyd, Gibson, A Tuilagi; Healey, Bemand; Holford, Buckland, Morris; M Johnson (capt), L Deacon; H Tuilagi, Back, W Johnson.
Replacements: Broadfoot for Hipkiss (62), Chuter for Buckland (58), B. Deacon for H. Tuilagi (62), Abraham for Back (35). Not used: Rawson, Hamilton, Dodge.

London Irish: Horak; Shabbo, Penney, Catt, Bishop; Everitt, Hodgson; Hatley, Flavin, Hardwick; Strudwick, Kennedy; Gustard, Dawson, Reid.
Replacements: Mordt for Penney (72), Paice for Flavin (80), Wheatley for Hardwick (48), Danaher for Gustard (61), Roche for Reid (80). Not used: Laidlaw, Barrett.