Defending Heineken Cup champions Leicester ran in ten tries as they trounced Italian minnows Calvisano at Welford Road.

After their opening 16-16 draw at Neath, the Tigers totally outclassed a visiting side forlornly seeking a first-ever away victory in the tournament.

Former Huddersfield rugby league player Steve Booth was the star of the show, using his speed and guile to grab a hat-trick of tries.

There were also braces for England flanker Neil Back and Geordan Murphy, the Ireland full-back making his first appearance of the season after a shoulder injury.

Perry Freshwater, Tom Tierney - his first for the club - and Martin Corry also crossed with Sam Vesty, Austin Healey and substitute Tim Stimpson sharing the kicking duties.

But they only managed five conversions between them.

Leicester dominated the opening 10 minutes but impatience saw a series of handling errors and missed targets.

But they took the lead in the 14th minute when Murphy's break and Back's off-load sent Booth in at the corner.

Booth looked dangerous every time he touched the ball and one slicing run nearly ended in another score for Leon Lloyd.

But Calvisano defended stoutly to frustrate the champions before Healey, who took over the kicking duties after Vesty missed two shots at goal, slotted a 27th minute penalty.

The Italians lost prop Giampiero De Carli to the sin-bin in the 29th minute and Leicester took advantage with a pushover try for Back.

Freshwater and Murphy added first-half injury-time touchdowns, with Healey booting a conversion.

Tierney and Back both crossed on the resumption as Leicester began to hit top gear, with Murphy adding a conversion in the absence of Healey, who had limped off.

A brilliant change of speed from Booth in the 60th minute saw the winger coast home in the right corner, pushing the Tigers into a 42-0 lead.

And further scores from Murphy, Corry and Booth completed the rout, with Tim Stimpson converting all three.

Leicester: Freshwater, Chuter, Tournaire, Deacon, Corry, Kronfeld, Back, W. Johnson, Tierney, Vesty, Booth, Kafer, Lloyd, Healey, Murphy.
Replacements: Stimpson, M. Johnson, Garforth, Balding, J Hamilton, Gelderbloom, West.

Calvisano: Davo, Moretti, De Carli, Mastrodomenico, Boardman, Mayerhofler, Mandelli, De Rossi, Dragotto, Muliero, Raineri, Zanoletti, Gabba, Vaccari, Ravazzolo.
Replacements: Bocca, Griffen, Purll, Ciampo, Roux, Varella.

Referee: Nigel Owens (WRFU)