Aviva Premiership: Northampton 8-36 Leicester
Leicester kept up the pressure on leaders Saracens with a comprehensive bonus-point victory over Northampton.
The Tigers led 12-3 at the break through four Tony Flood penalties with Stephen Myler responding for Saints.
But two second-half tries from Manu Tuilagi and one each for Niall Morris and Matthew Tait helped Leicester close the gap on Saracens to four points.
Flood added two conversions while Myler crossed for Northampton's only try of the game - as they remain in fourth.
Leicester had their noses in front at the break and deserved to be further ahead but had to rely on four Flood penalties to give them a nine-point lead.
Courtney Lawes was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on which prevented a near certain try, while Leicester were guilty of not being clinical enough.
Northampton showed very little going forward with Myler's penalty their only offering, while the Tigers suffered an injury blow just before the break with England prop Tom Youngs forced to withdraw.
Leicester came out flying after half-time and Tuilagi bundled over in the corner for the first try of the game.
Northampton came back firing and their pressure eventually told with Morris sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on, and from the resulting penalty Northampton eventually made their extra man pay with Myler eventually diving over after a clever pass inside.
But in Tuilagi Leicester had the outstanding player on the field and after Ben Youngs recycled the ball, the England centre charged through Northampton's weak midfield defence to cross for his second try.
Morris returned to the game after his yellow card and almost immediately crossed in the corner after another Leicester break.
Tait go their fourth, finishing off Tom Croft's superb break to seal the bonus point with Flood adding the extras. c
Northampton: Foden, Wilson, G. Pisi, May, Elliott, Myler, Dickson, Tonga'uiha, Hartley, Mercey, Lawes, C. Day, Manoa, Dowson, Wood. Replacements: Burrell for May (62), Lamb for Myler (73), Roberts for Dickson (66), A. Waller for Tonga'uiha (59), McMillian for Hartley (75), Mujati for Mercey (47), Nutley for Manoa (72), van Velze for Dowson (55). Sin Bin: Lawes (34). Leicester: Tait, Morris, Tuilagi, Allen, Thompstone, Flood, B. Youngs, Ayerza, T. Youngs, Cole, Slater, Parling, Croft, Salvi, Crane. Replacements: Smith for Allen (72), Ford for Flood (72), Harrison for B. Youngs (76), Mulipola for Ayerza (62), Hawkins for T. Youngs (37), Castrogiovanni for Cole (62), Kitchener for Parling (67), Waldrom for Crane (59). Sin Bin: Morris (56). Att: 13,479 Ref: Wayne Barnes (RFU).