Leicester 12 Ospreys 6: Toby Flood ensured Leicester's bid for a record-equalling third European title began in successful fashion against Ospreys at Welford Road. The England international went off nursing a leg injury 20 minutes from time, but his four first-half penalties were enough to ground the Welsh region.
The star-studded Welsh outfit, who travelled to the east midlands without their suspended centre Gavin Henson, delivered a lacklustre display.
Ospreys wing wizard Shane Williams hardly received a pass, such was Leicester's minance and control of possession.
Williams' scoring contribution was confined to a drop-goal, with James Hook dding a penalty — he also missed two shots at goal — as Tigers avenged their Twickenham defeat in last season's EDF Energy Cup final.
With a potentially try-laden trip ahead of them to Pool Three whipping boys Treviso next Saturday, Leicester are up and running in pursuit of a third Heineken Cup triumph that would match French giants Toulouse.
The Ospreys though must beat Liberty Stadium visitors Perpignan in six days' time, or risk a possible pool stage exit.
They will be relieved to have collected a losing bonus point, which could ultimately prove crucial in the quarter-final shake-up, but it was not a performance to frighten established European forces such as Toulouse, Munster or Wasps.
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