Leicester bounce back

Leicester bounced back to maintain their 14-month unbeaten home league record with a gritty 15-6 Zurich premiership win over London Irish at Welford Road last night.

Leicester were again without almost a complete team because of international calls and injuries but they proved their resilience by absorbing long periods of pressure and catching the Irish on the break with two opportunist tries.

Leicester stumbled two weeks ago as they were beaten by Northampton, but they went back to their winning ways as Alesana Tuilagi and Luke Abraham went over the whitewash, while Ross Broadfoot kicked one conversion and Sam Vesty added a penalty.

Barry Everitt kicked two penalties for Irish.

For the Exiles, it was a sixth defeat in eight league games and, with only four rounds of matches remaining it can only have increased their relegation concerns.

Leicester drew first blood when Sam Vesty, more comfortable at full-back than he was at fly-half at Northampton, struck a 16th minute penalty.

Everitt soon cancelled that out but Rodd Penney’s knock-on when he got over the Leicester line early in the second half and an Everitt penalty that struck an upright proved costly lapses for the Exiles.