Leeds (6) 9
Pens: Thomas (3)

Leicester (11) 14
Tries: Newby Pens: Staunton (3)

Newby dives over in the mud for the crucial try

Leicester won to return to the top of the Premiership but failed to impress against bottom club Leeds.

Craig Newby ran in from distance for the only try of the game late in the first half after Leeds had gone ahead through the boot of Ceiron Thomas.

The second half was totally dominated by the Tigers but they only managed to add three points to the half-time lead.

Leeds' resilient defence earned a bonus point which cuts the gap on second-from bottom Worcester to just five points.

Leeds head coach Neil Back:
"I am disappointed by the result and by the way we managed our game in the first half.

"We did things better in the second half and it was a game we could have won.

"I was proud of the effort the team put in and the changes in the second half gave us more impact.

"We got on top in the scrum and it gave us a good platform."

Leicester head coach Richard Cockerill:
"The pitch was as bad as I've seen in a decade. You could put your boot in four, five or even six foot in some areas, the mud was that deep.

"It's probably something that needs looking at. If you want to play top end sport you have to have surfaces better than that.

"It's the worst in the Premiership by far. It made us change our focus."

Leeds: Hinton; Fa'afili, Rabeni, Barrow, Blackett; Thomas, Gomarsall; MacDonald, Titterrell, Gomez, Lund, Wentzel (capt), Clark, Fourie, Oakley.
Replacements: Ma'asi, Hardy, Swainston, Myall, To'oala, Mathie, Ford, Welding.

Leicester: Hamilton; A Tuilagi, Hipkiss, Twelvetrees, Tuqiri; Staunton, Youngs; Ayerza, Chuter, White, Parling, Kay (capt), Newby, Woods, Crane.
Replacements: Davies, Stankovich, Harris, Green, Deacon, Grindal, Allen, G Murphy.

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