Leicester saw off a plucky challenge from Northampton to chalk up their 50th successive match without defeat in domestic competition thanks to a 17-6 triumph at Welford Road.

The Premiership leaders had make do with controversial England captain Martin Johnson, after he was handed a three-week ban for punching Saracens hooker Robbie Russell in a Premiership game two weeks ago.

Leicester were also without Johnson's England colleagues Graham Rowntree, who suffered a knee injury during the Six Nations romp against Ireland last weekend, and rested flanker Neil Back.

With Tigers' Ireland international Geordan Murphy also injured, Austin Healey found himself in the unfamiliar position of full-back.

Northampton, in contrast, welcomed back England scrum half Matt Dawson after seven weeks sidelined with an ankle problem, while fit-again Scottish flanker Budge Pountney also returned in a Northampton line up containing 13 internationals.

Saints fly half Paul Grayson kicked Northampton into a second-minute lead, but Leicester responded immediately when his opposite number Andy Goode found the target from 20 metres.

Grayson then went off for treatment to a facial injury, and although he returned five minutes later, he was led away again just a minute after Leicester scored a sparkling try.

Northampton had enjoyed much of the territorial supremacy, yet they were dealt a sucker punch on 28 minutes when Tigers prop Perry Freshwater scored a remarkable solo touchdown.

Freshwater, in the side for Rowntree, set off on a 40-metre run, smashing through several attempted tackles and crashing over to bring a capacity 16,000-strong crowd to its feet.

Northampton full-back Nick Beal reduced the arrears through a monster 50-metre penalty kick, and then Saints lost Pountney just before the break for treatment to a cut above his nose.

Leicester trooped off with a narrow interval lead, but they faced a tough second half as they targeted a 50th successive match in domestic competitions without defeat, a sequence stretching back to December 1997.

Pountney returned for the second period and Saints boss Wayne Smith made a substitution on 45 minutes, replacing lock Jon Phillips with France international Olivier Brouzet.

Leicester then extended their lead when Goode landed a 50-metre penalty to make it 11-6, and Beal was way off target with a penalty from similar range.

Leicester skipper Richard Cockerill made way for England's Dorian West, but not before Brouzet had been sin-binned by referee Tony Spreadbury.

There was a skirmish between both sets of forwards, but it was unclear why Spreadbury brandished a yellow card after consulting with his touch-judge.

Pountney left the action on 58 minutes before returning again after further treatment three minutes later, and as a scrappy match entered its final quarter, Leicester still held a five-point advantage.

Goode made the game safe for Leicester with his third penalty eight minutes from time, a kick that put the home side 14-6 in front.

Tigers flanker Lewis Moody then gave England's boss Clive Woodward an injury scare when he was helped off three minutes from time.

A dazed Moody was led away to the dressing rooms and the initial signs did not look good ahead of next Saturday's Lloyds TSB Six Nations encounter in France, when Moody would expect to be on the bench.

Goode kicked another penalty in injury time, and although Northampton went in search of a consolation try, Leicester had done enough to remain way out in front on top of the Premiership.

It had been a plucky effort by the Saints, yet Leicester prevailed 17-6 without ever hitting top gear.