Tuilagi tonic sees Leicester home

Leicester's Tuilagi brothers made light of the Tigers' international withdrawals with two tries that helped them strengthen their position at the top of the Aviva Premiership with a 15-9 win over Leeds

England Saxons cap Manu scored a first-half try while his Samoa international elder brother Alesana sealed the win with a second-half score.

Jeremy Staunton added five points with the boot as Leicester moved six points clear of Saracens at the top.

Leeds remain rooted to the foot of the table but can take heart from a game performance, highlighted by a strong second-half pack effort and three penalties for new fly-half recruit Adrian Jarvis that earned them a losing bonus point and pulled them to within three points of second-bottom Newcastle.

In Sunday's other Premiership game Gloucester climbed to fourth with a hard-earned 10-9 win over Wasps at Adams Park.

The Cherry and Whites had racked up a 10-0 lead by the break thanks to a try from wing James Simpson-Daniel and a conversion and penalty from fly-half Nicky Robinson.

Robinson's kicking boots deserted him after the break as he missed three further penalty attempts, but Dave Walder's three successful kicks were not enough for the hosts.

But there was bad news for both sides as a gripping contest was marred by the sight of former England wings Tom Varndell and James Simpson-Daniel leaving the pitch on stretchers with what looked like serious ankle injuries.