Leicester Tigers held off a second-half fightback from rock-bottom Worcester Warriors at Welford Road to stay in touch with the pacesetters in the Guinness Premiership.

Tigers, without six players on England duty, still ran in six tries to stretch their unbeaten run at home in the competition to 29 games.

Worcester were soon heading for a sixth straight defeat in the Premiership and trailed 23-0 at the interval.

The Tigers secured a bonus point five minutes after the restart when Martin Castrogiovanni claimed his first try for the club and Paul Burke's conversion made it 30-0.

Worcester registered their first point in the 50th minute through a Chris Horseman try with Shane Drahm adding the conversion.

The visitors were given further hope three minutes later when Gavin Hickie was yellow carded for killing the ball and they took advantage with Simon Whatling crossing for a try in the 63rd minute to trim the deficit to 40-14.

Dan Hipkiss put the game beyond the visitors with Leicester's fifth try in the 73 minute.

Lee Best grabbed a third try for Worcester three minutes later and Drahm converted but Jennings had the final word for Leicester in the last minute.

Leicester were the first to threaten with winger Tom Varndell being brought down by Aisea Havili just short of the 22-metre line after some slick handling in the backs had sent him racing away down the left flank.

Drahm sent a fourth-minute drop goal attempt wide from 40 metres and he was off target again when he tried his ck from just inside his own half with a penalty attempt moments later.

The Tigers relieved the pressure with a break from inside their own 22 that was instigated by Daryl Gibson. Jordan Crane and Shane Jennings kept the attack going, but Varndell could not find a way over in the corner.

Tigers kept the pressure on and Crane found a way over from close range in the 11th minute after a forward drive, his first try for the club since joining from Leds in the summer.

Burke's conversion hit the woodwork but he made amends six minutes later with a penalty that put Leicester 8-0 ahead.

The Tigers' fly-half put his side further clear with his second penalty after 25 minutes and Drahm missed a chance to register Worcester's first point two minutes later when he sent his penalty attempt wide.

Leicester hit back and Brett Deacon touched down in the corner in the 31st minute after doing well to gather a high pass.

Burke's conversion hit the post and Varndell added a third try for Leicester two minutes later. He raced through unopposed after Hipkiss had carved open the Worcester defence. Burke added the extras to put Leicester 23-0 ahead.

Varndell denied Worcester the chance of a reply in the dying moments of the half with a tackle on Mark Tucker.