Tigers sneak win over Quins

Leicester strengthened their footing at the Aviva Premiership summit after recording a hard-fought 17-13 win over Harlequins at Twickenham Stoop.

Quins' Joe Marler and Leicester's Marcos Ayerza saw red for fighting in the 64th minute as the reigning Aviva Premiership champions hit back from a 10-0 half-time deficit to move closer towards sealing top spot.

The hosts opened the scoring in the 32nd minute when England scrum-half Danny Care's quick thinking allowed him to collect possession and scamper over the line.

Fly-half Nick Evans converted and then added a penalty to put his side 10-0 up and in total control at the break.

Yet Richard Cockerill has fashioned a side with guts and his men showed their stomach for the fight in the second period.

Alesana Tuilagi stormed over the line in the left corner after good work from a line-out in the 42nd minute and Toby Flood added the extras.

Quins then conceded a penalty try which Flood converted and Quins' indiscipline began to cost them dear as Will Skinner and Mark Lambert were both sinbinned.

Evans kicked another penalty but tempers soon flared as Ayerza head-butted Marler, who responded with a flurry of punches and both men saw red.

Evans then missed a penalty that would have out Quins back in front and a penalty from Flood in the 73rd minute put the Tigers home and dry.

The scorers:

For Harlequins:
Tries: Care
Con: Evans
Pen: Evans 2

For Leicester:
Tries: Tuilagi, Penalty
Con: Flood 2
Pen: Flood

Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Gonzalo Camacho, 13 George Lowe, 12 Jordan Turner-Hall, 11 Ugo Monye, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Danny Care, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Chris Robshaw (capt), 6 Maurie Fa'asavalu, 5 George Robson, 4 Ollie Kohn, 3 John Andress, 2 Joe Gray, 1 Joe Marler.
Replacements: 16 Matt Cairns, 17 Ceri Jones, 18 Mark Lambert, 19 Tomas Vallejos, 20 Will Skinner, 21 Dave Moore, 22 Rory Clegg, 23 Tom Williams.

Leicester Tigers: 15 Scott Hamilton, 14 Horacio Agulla, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Anthony Allen, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Jordan Crane, 7 Craig Newby (capt), 6 Tom Croft 5 Ed Slater, 4 Steve Mafi, 3 Dan Cole, 2 George Chuter, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements: 16 Rob Hawkins, 17 Boris Stankovich, 18 Martin Castrogiovanni, 19 George Skivington, 20 Thomas Waldrom, 21 James Grindal, 22 Jeremy Staunton, 23 Matt Smith.

Referee: Wayne Barnes