Two first-half tries from Neil Back maintained Leicester's winning start to the Premiership season at Welford Road as brave Rotherham were left to reflect on another tale of woe.

Back eased himself to the brink of history when he finished off two typical close-range line-out drives and bagged his 48th and 49th league tries for the Tigers.

The England flanker was replaced by Lewis Moody before he could grab his hat-trick and half-century.

But his efforts were enough to gain a scrappy victory for Leicester who would have been in big trouble had visitors full-back Mike Umaga not passed up 14 points with failed goalkicking chances.

In light of recent comments by Rob Andrew, what was almost as predictable as the final outcome was the sin-binning of Martin Johnson 11 minutes from time as he deliberately tried to kill the ball close to the Leicester line.

Having suffered three successive defeats on their entrance into the Premiership, little was expected of the Yorkshire side on their first league visit to a ground where the hosts have not lost in the competition since 1998.

However, Rotherham have not risen from their humble origins in North-East One to the top flight without putting a few noses out of joint and despite their recent setbacks, had the temerity to take the lead through Umaga's 10th minute penalty.

Austin Healey had already wasted two chances before Back's opening score put the home side in front but the versatile England international made the most of good work from others when he accepted a try-scoring pass from Glenn Gelderbloom after Pat Howard had split the Rotherham defence.

Healey then added another role to his expanding portfolio when he took over the goalkicking responsibilities from Geordan Murphy, who had departed with an ankle injury, and landed the conversion.

Umaga pulled the visitors closer with his second penalty but Back performed a replica of his earlier effort to maintain a decisive Tigers lead.

In the face of increasing Leicester pressure, Rotherham managed to cling on until the break, then scored a try themselves within three minutes of the restart when Mike Wood picked out Jim Naylor with a neat inside pass.

Umaga drifted the conversion attempt wide, as he had done a penalty opportunity from a similar position moments earlier.

If those kicks had been successful, plus another failed penalty chance in the first half, Rotherham would have been in front. Instead, they trailed to a team which although not at their best, had enough class to carve out chances as needed.

Former Huddersfield rugby league man Steve Booth ripped Rotherham apart with a sniping run to the line. Healey converted and Leicester were clear again with a bonus point in the bag.

Umaga's disastrous evening with the boot continued with a 40-metre attempt which barely ascended above the height of the crossbar.

However, with eight minutes left the Samoan World Cup star was presented with an opportunity he could not miss after referee Chris White awarded a penalty try as Rotherham pressed home their man advantage following Johnson's enforced absence.

Umaga had a chance to apply more pressure with yet another penalty shot in the final minute which would have closed Rotherham to within a try.

But again he failed to leave Rotherham slumped at the foot of the table reflecting on the cruelties of life at the top, where Leicester remain at the very peak.