Leicester 32-14 Bristol

By Gary Fitzgerald 20/04/2008

Marcelo Loffreda still resembled a man under enormous pressure despite seeing his Tigers claw their way back into the top four.

The commanding fivetry show lifted spirits after miserable, confidence-sapping defeats in the EDF Energy Trophy Final and then in the League at Bath.

But the prospect of old Welford Road favourite Dean Richards returning to haunt Tigers with his Quins side on the final day of the normal season still looms large.

And former Pumas boss Loffreda knows it. So he was quick to warn his players that they "must play a lot better" in the final two games in order to be invited to the end-of-season play-off party.

Loffreda's job was on the line yesterday. Fortunately, his team came up against a vastly weakened Bristol who have already mentally, if not physically, packed up their bags for the season.

In his first season in charge there have been rumours of disquiet in the dressing room and mixed results have left them struggling to be in the big shoot-out.

Tigers moved up to fourth place above Wasps and Sale who both play today but Loffreda, whose men must beat both Newcastle and Harlequins Tigers' try blitz eases the pressure on Marcelo in the last two games, insisted: "We must play better and improve the performance if we are to be competitive at the end of the season.

"We are pleased with the result after such a long and difficult week but now we have two more massive steps left."

The Tigers showed their teeth and claws right from the kick-off, while their West Country opponents looked more like frightened rabbits.

The only question was how many tries and points Leicester would put up on such a cold, grey April afternoon.

Former All Blacks ace Aaron Mauger began the trouncing, touching down after fine work from Alesana Tuilagi.

An Andy Goode penalty increased the advantage, and the second try came soon after with Tuilagi again the provider of the final pass, this time to Tom Varndell.

Bristol reduced a 20-0 halftime deficit by seven when scrum-half Shaun Perry forced his way over and Ed Barnes converted, but they were soon on the back foot again with the Tigers pack - which dominated for the whole 80 minutes - forcing Bristol into conceding a penalty try for constantly collapsing the scrum.

It gave Tigers an important bonus point and they were not finished. Goode added a fifth try before Bristol had the last say with Graeme Beveridge going over the Tigers line.