Harry Ellis scored tries in both halves

Holders Leicester experienced a late wobble before clinching their place in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup with a patchy win over Calvisano.

The Tigers led 26-3 against their Italian opponents at half-time but the home side came roaring back in the second half as Leicester had to work hard to maintain their lead.

Tigers opened their account after just two minutes when hooker George Chuter pounced after a tap down from a Calvisano line-out for a try which Tim Stimpson converted.

They extended their advantage when scrum-half Harry Ellis started and finished a superb counter-attack involving Josh Kronfeld and Martin Corry.

However Stimpson failed to add the conversion, missing a simple chance in front of the posts.

MATCH SUMMARY

Calvisano 22 Tries: Vaccari 3 Cons: Fraser 2 Pens: Fraser Leicester 40 Tries: Ellis 2, Chuter, Tournaire, Booth, Stimpson Cons: Stimpson 5

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Kiwi fly-half Gerard Fraser finally got the home side on the scoreboard with a penalty after a rare visit to the Tigers half.

But Leicester bounced back almost immediately with a Steve Booth try and Stimpson extended their advantage, powering over from eight metres and converting his own try.

The Italians made a rash of substitutions at half-time and the introduction of experienced international winger Paolo Vaccari was the major factor in their impressive second-half comeback.

Despite an early try from Ellis, the winger touched down twice during a period of 19 unanswered points which also saw number eight Chean Roux cross under the Tigers post.

I'm very pleased to come here and get a result - there are no easy games in the Heineken Cup Tigers boss Dean Richards

Leicester's cause was not helped when impressive Ellis received a yellow card on the hour mark for a blatant shoulder charge.

Leicester's director of rugby Dean Richards was forced to bring on England captain Martin Johnson in an attempt to steady the ship with 10 minutes to go.

Leicester had the final say when another replacement Franck Tournaire was on hand to drive over following a Johnson line-out take with two minutes left on the clock.

Stimpson then converted to make the final score 40-22 and send the 700 travelling Tigers supporters home happy.

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