Flood scored 17 points before being substituted midway through the second half.

Leicester opened the scoring after 12 minutes when Flood, making his first start of the season, kicked a simple penalty.

Leeds hit back almost immediately when the Tigers were penalised at a scrum and Joe Ford hammered over the kick from the touchline.

The visitors then went ahead through another Ford penalty and worse was to follow for Leicester with Lewis Moody sent to the sin bin on the advice of the touch judge. 

Despite the loss of Moody, Leicester were able to make it 6-6 when Flood kicked another easy penalty after 24 minutes.

Leicester then had a series of scrums in the visitors’ 22 and Leeds were somewhat fortunate not to have a penalty try awarded against them when flanker Calum Clark was sin-binned.

The Tigers were also dealt a blow when Tom Croft, their England flanker, was helped off with a leg injury minutes before half-time.

After the restart Leeds were back under pressure when Andy Gomarsall and Erik Lund left the kick off to each other, allowing the Tigers to capitalise.

Another scrummage offence saw the referee lose patience and award a penalty try to Leicester which Flood converted.

Clark returned to the field but it was to no avail as Leicester extended their lead when Flood made a neat break and pass for Jordan Crane to send Scott Hamilton clear before the full-back provided a scoring pass for Anthony Allen.

The Tigers went further ahead after 58 minutes when replacement Brett Deacon drove over from close range, with Flood converting.

Lote Tuqiri then ran strongly to provide Flood with a comeback try which the fly-half converted. That proved to be his last action of the game before being substituted after 64 minutes.

Moody then scored the try of the game by breaking away from a ruck 45 metres out and outpacing the Leeds defence. Jeremy Staunton converted to complete a miserable second half for the visitors.