Wing ace Marcel Garvey and Kiwi centre Robert Todd touched down as Gloucester took the honours from a full-blooded Zurich Premiership clash with Leicester at Kingsholm.

England under-21 international Garvey crossed in the first half to set the Cherry and Whites on course for their 33rd successive home victory in all competitions and Todd put the game beyond doubt with an opportunist 74th-minute try.

Former rugby league star Henry Paul also made a significant contribution, showing some neat touches in attack and finishing the match with a 14-point haul after missing just one shot at goal.

All that Leicester could muster in reply was a single Tim Stimpson penalty as they were made to pay for a poor first-half display which saw their forwards comprehensively out-muscled up-front, especially in the set-piece.

Second row Simon Brown and number eight James Forrester made their presence felt as Gloucester's physical pack took the game to their opponents, although the the Tigers' second-half revival meant it was not quite so one-sided after the interval.

Leicester's greatest asset has traditionally been their pack but with seven forwards in England's World Cup squad, they are always going to struggle until the likes Neil Back and Martin Johnson return in December.

They were second best against Sale last weekend and it was more of the same in this one, despite being able to name England discard Graham Rowntree in the team following the prop's recovery from a hamstring problem.

Leicester were forced to make a last-minute re-adjustment to their starting line-up however with Austin Healey picking up an injury shortly before kick-off, with substitute Stimpson replacing him on the right wing and Tom Tierney moving onto the bench.

Stimpson, initially dropped following a disappointing display against Sale, was involved early on, helping out team-mate John Holtby deal with a dangerous high kick only for the Tigers to then concede a penalty which Paul stroked over.

Full-back Luke Myring, making his Leicester debut, was given a chance to level the score but his kick fell well short - and wide - of the uprights and in the 14th minute Gloucester stretched their lead.

Jon Goodridge began the move after gathering up Sam Vesty's clearance kick, sending the ball right where it eventually found Forrester and the back rower brushed of a tackle before feeding Garvey who finished neatly in the corner.

Forrester looked capable of adding a second try after charging down Harry Ellis' kick but he knocked on with a clear line just 20 yards away, while Garvey also threatened down the right moments later.

Gloucester were winning plenty of ball thanks to some robust work from their pack but stout defending from Leicester kept the home side at bay, forcing Paul to keep the scoreboard ticking over with a pair of penalties.

The second half saw Leicester improve markedly at the set-piece, setting up a promising attacking position down the left flank after winning quick ball at a line-out but fly-half Vesty dropped knocked on despite excellent service from Ellis.

They finally registered their first points of the afternoon in the 54th minute when Stimpson landed a straight penalty - Myring had been relieved of the kicking duties following two wayward shots at goal in the first half.

Gloucester were seeing less of the ball now - Dean Richards' half-time speech had clearly struck the right chord with his underperforming Tigers - but they were still competing on equal terms as Paul booted another three points.

Despite their second-half improvement Leicester were still chasing the game, and a risky pass from Vesty in his own 22 was intercepted by Todd who juggled with the ball before bringing it under control and sprinting home.

Paul converted and Gloucester looked to have put the icing on the victory when James Simpson-Daniel crossed in injury time but referee Ashley Rowden went to the television match official who ruled out the 'try'.

Teams:

Gloucester: Goodridge, Garvey, Todd, Paul, Simpson-Daniel, Amor, Page, Wood, Fortey, Deacon, Eustace, Brown, Boer, Hazell, Forrester.

Replacements: Olver, Brotherstone, Cornwell, Buxton, Matthews, Frape, Teague.

Tries: Garvey, Todd.

Cons: Paul.

Pens: Paul 4.

Leicester: Myring, Stimpson, Gelderbloom, Gibson, Holtby, Vesty, Ellis, Rowntree, Chuter, Nebbett, Hamilton, L. Deacon, H. Tuilagi, Kronfeld, Balding.

Replacements: Richards, Morris, Ryder, W. Johnson, Hipkiss, W. Skinner, Tierney.

Pens: Stimpson.

Att: 11,000

Ref: Ashley Rowden (RFU).