Leeds started brightly against their illustrious opponents with Stuart Hooper and Andy Tuilagi in particular producing strong driving runs to rock the Tigers defence back. The home side made sure they got a reward for their strong start when Alberto Di Bernardo kicked a penalty from 26 metres out after Leicester were penalised for off side after seven minutes.
Leicester levelled the score three minutes later when Andy Goode punished the home defence for offside with a penalty from the 22 metre line.
Leeds showed composure after that and continued to press the Tigers across the field. Eventually the pressure told and Tom Croft was penalised for using his hands in the ruck. Di Bernardo's penalty attempt wavered in the strong wind but finally went between the posts to give Leeds a 6-3 lead after 16 minutes.
Leeds had a lucky escape five minutes later when Moody blocked Hinton's clearing kick but it rebounded away dead and the chance was gone.
However, that spell of pressure did allow Leicester to level the score when Goode kicked a penalty after 24 minutes from 25 metres out right in front of the posts.
Chances were few and far between for either side in the next period of the game as the cold, wet and blustery conditions prevented the game from opening up. However, with five minutes remaining in the half the Tigers struck. There seemed little on when Goode kicked to the corner but Apo Satala could only knocked the ball backwards under pressure from Tom Varndell and the Leicester man was quickest to react when he picked up and went over for the try. Goode added the conversion to make it 13-6.
Di Bernardo had the chance to cut the deficit with the last play of the half but his penalty attempt from 60 metres out dropped just short.
Leeds were left to rue that missed chance just five minutes into the second half when Goode successfully kicked an attempt from the same range to make it 16-6.
It got worse for Leeds as they tried to play out from their own half in to strong, driving rain. Leicester mounted several waves of pressure and eventually Tom Youngs held of Andy Tuilagi to score. Goode missed the conversion but Leicester now led 21-6 after 49 minutes.
Leeds had their best spell of pressure after that and Jon Dunbar was unlucky not to score a minute after coming on. Erik Lund made a great break before offloading to Dunbar who was stopped just short of the line.
With ten minutes remaining Goode managed to settle any ideas of a fightback from Leeds with a penalty after Leeds were penalised for off side.
Stuart Lancaster's side never gave in and continued to try and get a score but the final pass let them down on a number of occasions and it appeared like Johne Murphy had scored his sides third try but a brilliant last gasp dive by Apo Satala knocked the ball out of his grasp as he tried to ground it.
The scoreline was given a flattering look with the last play of the game. Leeds had battled hard throughout but a clever kick by full back Sam Vesty set Varndell away and he just beat Tom Biggs to the touchdown. Goode missed the conversion to make the final score 29-6 to the visitors.
Leeds Carnegie: Hinton, Satala, Vickerman, Tuilagi, Biggs, Di Bernardo, Bedford, MacDonald, Ma'asi, Noon, Hooper, Lund, Paul, Clark, Oakley.
Replacements: Pala'amo for Noon (58), Parkes for Ma'asi (63), Bouza for Lund (72), Dunbar for Paul (49), Edwards, Blackett for Tuilagi (68), Hepworth for Di Bernardo (76)
Leicester Tigers: Vesty, J Murphy, Hipkiss, T Youngs, Varndell, A Goode, F Murphy, Ayerza, Davies, Moreno, Hamilton, Kay, Croft, Moody, Deacon
Replacements: Chuter for Davies (54), Young for Moreno (75), Blaze for Kay (71), Abraham for Moody (58), B Youngs, Burke, Erinle
Ref: Andrew Small
Attendance: 9,496