Leicester Tigers crushed Benetton Treviso on Sunday afternoon to secure a quarter-final place in the Heineken Cup as one of the two best-placed runners up.

The Tigers scored nine tries in a 62-15 thrashing, with No8 Jordan Crane helping himself to a hat-trick at Welford Road.

Alesana Tuilagi, Thomas Waldrom, Manu Tuilagi and Steve Mafi also crossed for the hosts, while full back Scott Hamilton grabbed a brace.

England fly-half Toby Flood finished with a personal tally of 17 points thanks to seven conversions and a penalty as Leicester did all they could to finish top of Pool 5.

The 2001 and 2002 European Champions knew a bonus-point victory would see them a win the group and claim a home quarter-final as long as Perpignan didn’t take maximum points from their clash with the Scarlets at the Stade Aime Giral.

Leicester kept their part of the bargain but the Scarlets failed to do Richard Cockerill’s men a favour as Perpignan scored five tries in a 37-5 romp.

Treviso actually opened the scoring inside the very first minute in the East Midlands as Chris Burton slotted a drop goal and the game remained tight for the opening quarter. But once Crane had crossed for his first score shortly after the 20-minute mark, it was all Leicester.

The reigning English Champions had the bonus point sewn up by half-time thanks to Hamilton’s first try, Crane’s second and then an Alesana Tuilagi effort right on the whistle.

Crane completed his hat-trick shortly after the break, with Waldrom adding a sixth score moments later.

Treviso hit back with tries from Brendan Williams and Alberto Sgarbi but Leicester finished on top as a second score from Hamilton was followed by two tries in the final five minutes through Manu Tuilagi and Mafi.