Leicester took a huge step towards their fourth consecutive league title with an impressive display at Welford Road.

Having almost seen their four-year unbeaten home run in the Zurich Premiership ended by Gloucester last season, the Tigers were in no mood for a repeat performance this time round.

In front of a sell-out crowd Neil Back, Austin Healey and Dorian West all scored tries with Tim Stimpson adding the extras and two penalties.

In reply Gloucester had fly-half Ludovic Mercier to thank for their points, the Frenchman converting his own second-half try and slotting a penalty.

In a frenetic opening few minutes Leicester lost two players to injury when Louis Deacon, on in place of the suspended Martin Johnson, was forced off, closely followed by centre Ollie Smith.

Will Johnson - the brother of the England skipper - and Glenn Gelderboom coming on as replacements.

The game continued at breakneck speed with both sides keen to spread the ball wide.

Wing Freddie Tuilagi, who broke the hearts of the Cherry and White faithful last season with his injury-time try, was in the thick of the action but Diego Albanese was more than a match for the Samoan, bringing him crashing to earth on a couple of occasions.

Then on 23 minutes Gloucester conceded a penalty for handling in the ruck and from the resulting play Back, captain in the absence of Johnson, touched down near the posts after Harry Ellis popped him the pass a couple of metres from the line. Stimpson added the extras.

The score seemed to settle the Tigers nerves and they began to dominate possession and territory with Gloucester rarely able to break out of their own half.

The visitors' cause was not helped when prop Patrice Collazo was sent to the sin-bin on 35 minutes for a professional foul.

Inside a minute Healey had crossed for the home side's second try after collecting a lovely floated pass from Ellis to power his way under the posts.

Stimpson again added the conversion followed by an injury-time penalty to give the champions a 17-0 lead at the break.

The full-back extended the home side's advantage to 20 points with his second penalty of the game just after the restart.

But Gloucester finally got off the mark with a penalty from Mercier 10 minutes into the second period.

And the Frenchman was in the thick of the action again minutes later when he chased his own kick ahead to touch down in the left-hand corner, before adding the conversion.

Seven minutes from the end Tigers put the game beyond doubt when winger Steve Booth broke down the right, drew the covering defence before slipping a pass to Dorian West.

The hooker was never going to be stopped and he touched down under the posts leaving Stimpson a simple conversion and Leicester one hand on the trophy.

Teams:

Leicester: Stimpson, Booth, Smith, Kafer, Tuilagi, Healey, Ellis, Rowntree, West, Garforth, Deacon, Kay, Moody, Back, Corry, W. Johnson.

Replacements: Gelderbloom for Smith (10), Hamilton for Ellis (54), Freshwater for Rowntree (63), Cockerill for West (75), W. Johnson for Deacon (18), Balding for W. Johnson (78).

Not Used: Nebbett.

Tries: Back, Healey, West.

Cons: Stimpson 3.

Pens: Stimpson 2.

Gloucester: O'Leary, Albanese, Paul, Todd, Fanolua, Mercier, Gomarsall, Collazo, Azam, Deacon, Fidler, Cornwell, Boer, Forrester, Paramore. Replacements: Catling for Fanolua (68), Pucciarello for Deacon (62), Sewabu for Forrester (59).

Not Used: Yachvili, Fortey, Woodman, Pearce.

Tries: Mercier.

Cons: Mercier.

Pens: Mercier

Att: 16,250

Ref: Tony Spreadbury (RFU).