HEINEKEN CUP POOL 1 Dragons (9) 20: Try: Montgomery. Pens: Montgomery 2. DGs: Jarvis 2. Leicester (12) 26: Tries: Van der Westhuyzen 2, H Tuilagi, West. Cons: Vesty, Booth 2. Att: 8,319

The Tigers fly-half scored two tries, set up another and was a constant danger with ball in hand.

Compatriot Percy Montgomery did his best to inspire the Dragons, adding a try and three penalty kicks.

But the Welsh region could not prevent their visitors from claiming a bonus point and a Pool One decider with Stade Francais next week.

The French giants sneaked a 13-10 home win over Ulster to end the Irishmen's hopes and now head to Welford Road for a winner-takes-all showdown.

The Dragons' bonus point for losing by less than seven points was no consolation after losing at Rodney Parade for the first time this season.

Fly-half Lee Jarvis converted the Dragons' early pressure into a drop goal to open the scoring.

But the Tigers pack then surged in behind Van der Westhuyzen's break and Darren Morris popped the pass for the South African to race under the posts.

Full-back Sam Vesty had an easy conversion to make it 7-3 to the visitors with six minutes gone.

The Dragons were unbeaten at home this season, which is a great record, and I am delighted with the result. Leicester coach Dean Richards

Three more points came to the Welshman as Montgomery punished Leicester for an offside, which also prevented Van der Westhuyzen poaching an interception try.

With the half-hour mark approaching, Leon Lloyd's break gave Van der Westhuyzen the time to nine-iron a perfect chip to the right wing for Henry Tuilagi to score an unconverted try.

But the Dragons kept plugging away - and Montgomery was able to pull his side back to 9-12 with another penalty.

The first action of the second half was a bout of fisticuffs as Ian Gough took exception to being taken out of the lineout by Leicester's Will Johnson, the end result the sin bin for both players.

Unfortunately the match now went from scrap to scrappy, with Jarvis' second drop goal to level the scores the only highlight of a clumsy 10-minute period from both sides.

That spell was broken by Steve Booth - lucky to escape a yellow card for a swinging arm on Montgomery earlier - as the Tiger came off his wing to burst through midfield.

Stade Francais couldn't get a try here, Ulster couldn't get a try here, so to concede four is a real blow Dragons coach Mike Ruddock

Booth was dragged down five metres short of the try line, but hooker Dorien West was on hand to finish off the move for Leicester's third try - Booth taking the conversion.

Dragons coach Mike Ruddock sent on the reinforcements, with Andy Marinos paying immediate dividends to scythe into the visitors' 22.

Harry Ellis was forced to high-tackle the former Wales centre as Marinos stepped inside him, allowing Montgomery an easy penalty chance to pull the Dragons back to 15-19.

Yet with 10 minutes remaining Van der Westhuyzen capped an impressive night with his second try - Leicester's fourth - to make the result and a bonus point safe.

The Tigers' lineout catch and drive at the line was halted by some heroic grappling Dragons.

But when the ball went wide, a show and step at pace caught Marinos hopelessly misaligned and Van der Westhuyzen dived in under the posts for a seven-pointer.

Marinos made amends in injury time with the break that led to Montgomery's try, but the Dragons had run out of time.

Dragons: P Montgomery; N Brew, H Luscombe, S Winn, B Breeze; L Jarvis, G Baber; A Black, S Jones, C Anthony, I Gough, P Sidoli, R Beattie, J Forster (capt), M Owen.
Replacements: P Young, R Snow, R Oakley, J Ringer, S Tuipuluto, A Marinos, CWarlow.

Leicester Tigers: S Vesty; S Booth, G Gelderbloom, L Lloyd, F Tuilagi; J van der Westhuyzen, H Ellis; G Rowntree, D West, D Morris, M Johnson, L Deacon, W Johnson, N Back (capt), H Tuilagi.
Replacements: W Skinner, J Richards, R Nebbett, M Corry, T Tierney, R Pez, L Myring.

Referee: Joel Jutge (France).