Leeds (6) 9 Pens: Jarvis 3 Leicester (10) 15 Tries: M Tuilagi, A Tuilagi Con: Staunton Pens: Staunton
Leicester's Alesana Tuilagi is tackled by Leeds' Marco Wentzel during the Tigers' 15-9 victory at Headingley
Leicester re-established a six-point lead at the top of the Premiership with a hard-fought victory at Leeds.
The Tigers appeared to be in control thanks to Manu Tuilagi's converted try and Jeremy Staunton's penalty.
But Leeds hit back after losing fly-half Ceiron Thomas to injury, with replacement Adrian Jarvis kicking two penalties to make it 10-6 at the break.
A third Jarvis penalty reduced the deficit to a point but Alesana Tuilagi touched down to win it for the Tigers.
The victory was Leicester's seventh successive Premiership win, opening up a six-point lead over second-placed Saracens.
But they were pushed all the way by bottom-club Leeds, who picked up a potentially crucial losing bonus point to close the gap between themselves and second-bottom Newcastle to three points.
That did not appear to be a likely scenario as Leicester, without five England internationals, dominated the opening 20 minutes.
The visitors took only three minutes to open the scoring when Manu Tuilagi charged in from 15 metres after good work from brother Alesana and centre Anthony Allen.
Staunton slotted the conversion and one of two penalty attempts before Jarvis, making his debut after signing from Bristol, entered the fray to kick-start the Leeds fightback.
He hit the upright with one long-range penalty, but Tom Denton forced a second simpler penalty which Jarvis slotted over.
Jarvis added two more either side of half-time to give Leeds momentum, but it was Leicester who grabbed the decisive score when Alesana Tuilagi bulldozed over Leigh Hinton to score in the corner.
Staunton's conversion attempt hit the post but any hopes of a second Leeds comeback evaporated when a clash between captain Marco Wentzel and Tigers' Alesana Tuilagi ended with both players being sent to the sin-bin.
Leicester Tigers director or rugby Richard Cockerill: "With the guys missing - we had about 14 overall - it's a day to get the win and with the results yesterday it was really important.
"Just because it was Leeds, those points are just as important. Not many other teams would have come here and been able to cope with that many absentees.
"Leeds stuck to their task and really took it to us and with five minutes to go they were camped on our line.
"If they keep playing like that they'll cause teams problems. Sides will come here and struggle if they play like that."
Leeds head coach Neil Back: "We are bitterly disappointed, we started the first half poorly and gave them too much respect.
"We can't do that against the top sides and that was the main topic of conversation at half-time.
"We performed much better in the second half and it was an outstanding tackle to stop Luther Burrell scoring late on, but with a scrum deep in their territory we should be coming away with points."
Leeds Carnegie: Hinton, Blackett, Fa'afili, S. Barrow, Stephenson, Thomas, Fury, Hardy, Nilsen, Swainston, T. Denton, Wentzel, Myall, Oakley, To'oala.
Replacements: Mathie for Fa'afili (63), Jarvis for Thomas (27), Burrell for Fury (63), MacDonald for Hardy (41). Not Used: Freer, Gomez, Craig, Browne.
Sin Bin: Wentzel (60).
Leicester: Hamilton, Agulla, M. Tuilagi, Allen, A. Tuilagi, Staunton, Grindal, Ayerza, Chuter, Bucknall, Mafi, Skivington, Newby, Woods, Waldrom.
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