England's Lewis Moody made a try-scoring return to action as Leicester predictably dominated their opening Heineken Cup Pool One game against minnows Calvisano.

The World Cup-winning flanker had been out of action since last December after suffering a career-threatening stress fracture of the foot.

But he looked in vintage form against the Italians, scoring two second-half tries in a performance that would have delighted national boss Andy Robinson.

England scrum-half hopeful Harry Ellis also scored twice to push his claims for inclusion against Canada in three weeks' time, while Seru Rabeni scored the other try and Andy Goode kicked 12 points.

Calvisano's only reply came from Gerard Fraser, who kicked a penalty in either half.

Leicester coach John Wells, though, will not have been happy with his side's first half showing and they lacked rhythm and only led 13-3 at the break.

The Italians arrived having shipped an average of 40 points in their four previous European Cup encounters with the Tigers.

But maybe Leicester had half an eye on the stiffer tests ahead against Pool One big guns Biarritz and Wasps.

They allowed Neil Back and Julian White the luxury of an afternoon under cover on the bench and out of the steady rain.

Alongside them was player-coach Richard Cockerill, called up as hooking cover following George Chuter's six-week stamping suspension.

The most significant appearance was that of Moody, the England flanker making his first start since surgery on his complicated foot injury.

Moody showed up well, even though he made a mess of his first carry, knocking on after denting the midfield defence following Goode's eighth minute penalty.

But Leicester grabbed a 14th minute try from Ellis, who was bundled over by his forwards after Rabeni's break had taken him close to the line.

Goode converted and kept his side on the front foot with a series of searching kicks to the corners.

The Calvisano defence held against some predictably direct attacks - under-employed wing Austin Healey looked thoroughly miserable - and frustrated the hosts for the next 20 minutes until Goode thumped over a second penalty.

The visitors have a reputation as a dogged outfit and made sure they stayed in the game by scoring with just about their only visit to Leicester territory when fly-half Fraser stroked over a penalty two minutes before the break.

Wells opted to make only one change at half-time, replacing Healey with the more direct Alex Tuilagi.

And with Goode adding extra width to the game, Calvisano suddenly started to look much more limited in defence.

It took only five minutes for Leicester to add a second try, with Tuilagi involved on the right before Goode's long pass gave Rabeni a clear run to the line from 20 metres.

Player coach Cockerill, now 33, replaced James Buckland after 53 minutes and was immediately back into the old routine.

He found Martin Johnson with his first lineout throw and the Leicester pack rumbled towards the line before Ellis nipped round the blind-side for his second try.

Fraser responded with a penalty but the hosts were now in total control, emphasised on the hour when Moody was driven over in the right-hand corner and Goode converted.

Moody was celebrating again two minutes later when he was driven over for a second try.

Goode's conversion made it 37-6 and Leicester were unlucky not to add to the score as they continued to stretch the visitors in the final 10 minutes.

Teams:

Leicester: Vesty, Holtby, Rabeni, Gibson, Healey, Goode, Ellis, Rowntree, Buckland, Morris, M. Johnson, Kay, B. Deacon, Moody, W. Johnson.

Replacements: A. Tuilagi for Healey (41), Cornwell for Goode (72), H. Tuilagi for W. Johnson (70).

Not Used: Cockerill, White, Back, Bemand.

Tries: Ellis 2, Rabeni, Moody 2.

Cons: Goode 3.

Pens: Goode 2.

Calvisano: Vaccari, Nitoglia, Raineri, Zanoletti, Tuta Vodo, Fraser, Canavosio, Bocca, Moretti, Perugini, Ngauamo, Purll, Mandelli, Zaffiri, Elisara.

Replacements: Griffen for Canavosio (41), Castrogiovanni for Bocca (54).

Not Used: De Carli, Intoppa, Bernabo, Murgier, Mulieri.

Pens: Fraser 2.

Att: 16,815

Ref: David Changleng (SRFU).