Leicester bounced back from their defeat at Northampton to maintain their 14-month unbeaten home league record with a gritty Zurich premiership victory over London Irish at Welford Road.

Leicester were again without almost a complete team because of international calls and injuries but they proved their resilience by absorbing long periods of pressure and catching the Irish on the break with two opportunist tries.

For the Exiles, it was a sixth defeat in eight league games and, with only four rounds of matches remaining it can only have increased their relegation concerns.

Former England winger Austin Healey was pressed into service as an emergency fly-half for Leicester.

The experienced campaigner had an off night with his kicking but his willingness to run the ball at every opportunity created attacking openings and he conjured up the first try with a superb darting run that gave left winger Alesana Tuilagi space to squeeze over.

Tuilagi then set up the 75th-minute decider by harrying former Leicester full-back Michael Horak, charging down his clearance kick and setting up young flanker Luke Abraham for his first senior try.

Healey almost conjured another try at the death when he outstripped the Irish defence with a scintillating burst on the right wing but Leon Lloyd's scoring pass to Daryl Gibson was adjudged forward.

All the Irish had to show for their efforts were two penalties from fly-half Barry Everitt.

They did not even return home with the consolation of a bonus point as a long-range attack from their own half deep into injury time created a try-scoring overlap only for winger Justin Bishop to knock on, much to the delight of a sell-out crowd.

The Irish were secure in the scrums and line-outs but they played far too much of their best rugby in their own half and their reluctance to kick for position allowed Leicester to absorb the pressure.

Heavy rain in the hour before kick-off made conditions difficult and it took both sides time to settle after an untidy first quarter.

Leicester drew first blood when Sam Vesty, more comfortable at full-back than he was at fly-half at Northampton, struck a 16th minute penalty.

Everitt soon cancelled that out but Rodd Penney's knock-on when he got over the Leicester line early in the second half and an Everitt penalty that struck an upright proved costly lapses for the Exiles.