Tigers stay top thanks to a Flood of fine kicking

TOBY Flood put on an impressive personal performance as Leicester beat Gloucester 33-11 to stay top of the Guinness Premiership.

Flood kicked four penalties and three conversions as well as playing his part in a couple of tries and controlling matters from the fly-half position.

Bath registered their fourth successive Guinness Premiership victory by punishing a woefully indisciplined Worcester 37-13 at the Rec.

Northampton rugby director Jim Mallinder will have had no sympathy for his title-chasing team after they crashed to a 13-6 defeat at Harlequins, who got a try from Mike Brown and eight points from the boot of fly-half Nick Evans.

London Irish head coach Toby Booth praised Newcastle for their spirited second-half comeback in his side's 12-12 draw at Kingston Park.

Tries from George Stowers and Steffon Armitage looked to have set Irish on the way to their first win of 2010 as they took a 12-3 lead. But Falcons fly-half Jimmy Gopperth kicked three penalties after the break to tie the scores.

In the Magners League Leinster beat Scarlets 27-14.