Leeds kept their Zurich Premiership survival hopes alive with a stunning victory over leaders Leicester at Headingley.

The Tigers were off-colour all afternoon but looked like snatching an undeserved victory as Leeds conceded a stoppage-time penalty.

But Andy Goode, having already kicked 17 points, failed to hold his nerve and put his kick wide to hand Leeds the most unlikely victory.

Leicester had looked to have taken control of a tense contest with a try early in the second half from Leon Lloyd but battling Leeds hit back through Tom Biggs. The kicking of Gordon Ross proved crucial for the Tykes, the fly-half scoring 18 points.

After results failed to go their way yesterday, Leeds went into the game eight points adrift at the foot of the table and 40 behind leaders Leicester.

Yet the Tykes were far from intimidated and showed plenty of determination to get out of their predicament as they ground out a 15-9 lead in a tight, tryless first half.

All their points came from the boot of returning Scotland international Ross, who was handed his first penalty opportunity after just two minutes.

Leicester had not won in their three previous visits to Headingley and again started badly as Julian White was sin-binned for his part in a scuffle with Mark Regan.

Ross did not pass up the opportunity to chalk up the first three points of the game but Leeds could not take full advantage of White's absence.

Goode levelled the scores with a penalty and he and Ross continued to trade kicks throughout the first half.

The scores were locked at 6-6 when Leeds had their first real opportunities to cross the Leicester line.

The Tigers were first stretched as David Rees broke from deep from a Chris Bell pass but full-back Geordan Murphy chased back to make a try-saving tackle.

Andre Snyman also forced the Tigers onto the back foot with a powerful run but the visitors survived as Ross' kick to the corner proved too strong for Biggs.

The Tykes had to settle for three more Ross penalties but Goode kept the Tigers in touching distance with a drop goal just before the interval.

Leicester moved up a gear after the break and, after further cutting the gap with another Goode penalty, took the lead for the first time with a try on 49 minutes.

The Tykes' hitherto strong defence had no answer as Daryl Gibson and Ollie Smith combined to send winger Leon Lloyd over in the corner.

Goode converted but Leeds were not willing to throw in the towel and responded with a try of their own from Biggs.

The score was all of the full-back's own making as he gathered the ball on halfway and made an arcing run to cross in the corner. Ross missed the conversion but added another penalty to increase the Tykes' lead to four.

Goode again cut the gap with another three-pointer but Leeds managed to hold on to their slender advantage through the final 12 minutes of normal time and seven tense minutes of injury time.

The game looked up when Goode opted to kick another penalty but the Tigers number 10 failed to hit the hit the target and Leeds celebrated.