Leeds Tykes reversed a half-time deficit to overcome a spirited Calvisano side 33-16 at Headlingly.

The Italians took a 13-11 lead into the interval lead but any dreams of a surprise win were dashed as the home side found their form in the second period.

Three second-half tries secured a hard-fought win, and  handed Leeds the bonus point for their four tries, a bonus point that could well prove crucial in the final reckoning.

The home side seemed to be on course when Gordon Ross notch two penalties inside the opening eight minutes, the first a well-struck 45-metre effort, to put Leeds 6-0 ahead.

But Calvisano responded with a spell of concerted pressure and forced the Tykes to concede a penalty which South African fly-half Herkules Kruger noteched after 13 minutes.

With 25 minutes gone, Tom Biggs was forced to make a last-ditch tackle on Calvisano winger Cristian Zanoletti as the Italians, led by impressive skipper Roberto Mandelli, came closest to registering the opening try

But five minutes before the interval a brief flurry of pressure in the left-hand corner allowed hooker Rob Rawlinson to barge his way over from point-blank range for a try which Ross failed to convert.

The Italians continued to press, however, and two minutes before the break Kruger’s clever chip sent Apenise Tuta Vovo racing down the left flank.

The Fijian wing collected the ball before producing a perfect offload to South African full-back Jacobus Van Schalkwyk to cross the line. Kruger added the extras to reduce the arrears to 11-10 and then struck a 35-metre penalty to put the Italians in 13-11 ahead at the break.

Davies doubtless left some harsh words ringing in his players’ ears during the interval as they stormed out to claim their second try of the match after just three minutes of the
second half.

A bewildering array of inter-passing saw the ball pass through five pair of hands and found second row Tom Palmer in space to crash over the line.

Ross again converted to put Leeds 18-13 ahead before Kruger notched a penalty for Calvisano seven minutes later to keep the contest on a knife-edge.

But a penalty from Ross shortly before the hour mark and further tries from Rayno Gerber and Tim Stimpson put Leeds home and dry for a victory which, at last, has their season up and running.

The victory means the Tykes ended their eight-match losing streak, but consigns the Italian champions Calvisano their Heineken Cup loss this season, making quarter-final qualification seem a distant dream.