Leicester Tigers have defeated Harlequins 22-19 in a tight Aviva Premiership game at the Welford Road Stadium on Sunday.

The hosts were first to get points on the board when Karl Dickson was deemed to be offside as the ball came out of a scrum in the 10th minute, with Tommy Bell kicking a point-blank range penalty between the posts.

Nick Evans then kicked Quins level almost immediately after Tigers were penalised themselves for being offside, but Bell restored the home side's three-point lead in the 14th minute from a penalty given after hooker Dave Ward was judged not to have released quickly enough.

Bell and Evans traded penalties throughout the first half, though the visitors went in a point ahead at the break after Jack Clifford was handed the ball two metres out, allowing him free rein to dive over for his first try of the season.

Leicester gave away a penalty immediately after the restart, Evans striking his kick cleanly between the posts to extend his side's lead, but just four minutes elapsed before Bell kicked three points of his own.

A further penalty from Evans just inside the halfway line gave Quins a four-point lead, but with the game evenly poised, Tigers replacement Laurence Pearce barged over the try line with nine minutes to go, before Owen Williams, kicking in lieu of the substituted Bell, successfully converted.

Tigers now join Saracens at the top of the Premiership, as the only two sides with two wins from their first two games.