Leicester Tigers came back down to earth after Friday night's heroics as they suffered a 28-17 defeat in the LV= Cup.

With an average age of just over 22, it was a very inexperienced Tigers side that headed to Headingley.

Only Ben Kay and captain James Grindal were regulars in the first team with a host of Academy youngsters making up the rest of the squad.

One of those was 16-year-old debutant fly-half George Ford, the youngest player to put on a Tigers shirt in a competitive fixture and he struck seven points from two conversions and a first-half penalty.

Second-half tries from Tom Armes and the excellent Will Hurrell threatened an unlikely comeback at one stage, but a 25-3 half-time deficit proved too much for the visitors.

As well as making his debut, Ford was up against his elder brother, Joe, 19, and it was the Leeds teenager who opened the scoring on eight minutes.

With dad, England defence coach Mike Ford, in the crowd, George levelled the scores at 3-3 soon afterwards.

Leeds' Ford put his side back in front on the quarter-hour mark before he scored the opening try of the game.

The home side picked up turnover ball inside their own 22 and broke right. With Tigers sucked into the ruck, there was space out wide which Leeds exposed and Rhys Oakley's pass set Ford off for a 30-metre finish.

Winger Scott Armstrong scored the Yorkshiremen's second try of the day just eight minutes later from another move which started inside their own half.

Full-back Jon Goodridge did the hard work and handed off to Armstrong who saw off the tackle of Alex Lewington to go in. Ford's conversion took the scores to 18-3.

The game seem lost when some dreadful defending on the stroke of half-time allowed scrum-half Scott Mathie to go in untouched from a tap penalty and Ford made it 25-3 at the interval.

Tigers dominated the opening 10 minutes of the second half, though.

Their pressure saw former Tigers prop Alex Moreno sin-binned for repeated offending and, a minute later, No.8 Armes finished off a rolling maul from 15 metres and Ford converted from wide left.

Joe Ford made it 28-10 at the other end but, as Tigers attacked again, Leeds flanker Calum Clark saw yellow as the home side were momentarily down to 13 men.

After what seemed like an age in the Leeds 22, Tigers finally scored their second try with a powerful finish from Will Hurrell and Ford converted to pull it back to 28-17.

Tigers had their fair share of possession in the final quarter but could not convert any of their dominance to points against a Leeds side with a more experience in vital areas.

Joe Ford was pleased with his side's win and also proud of his brother's display for Tigers.

He said: "Did I enjoy it? If I'd sat down the night before and tried to plan out how my debut would go, then that was pretty close.

"I know I made some mistakes but it's something to work on. George and I didn't talk much beforehand. Fair play to him, he's one of the youngest players ever to play at that level and I'm really proud of him.

"He's only 16 and to put in a performance like that just shows his ability and his potential.''

Tigers host Newport on Saturday in the same competition.

Nottingham lost 42-11 against Exeter Chiefs in their Championship clash at Welford Road on Saturday.