Sale Sharks claim crucial Premiership win over Leicester Tigers : Planet Rugby

Sale Sharks continued their superb Premiership form with a 31-22 win over Leicester Tigers on Friday to claim a bonus try point to kick off at home.

Gus Warr, Tommy Taylor, Sam James and Tom O’Flaherty crossed for the tries as last season’s runners-up made it four in a row on the day director of rugby Alex Sanderson penned a new three-year deal.

Leicester maintained an early lead through a rare Dan Cole try and also crossed through Matt Scott in the first half, while England’s George Martin added a third with just four minutes remaining.

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The Sharks, who started the weekend in sixth place, travel to Saracens on the final day of the league season next weekend, almost certainly needing another win to have any chance of a top-four finish. They move into third place, but the teams around them have to play.

Leicester took an early lead at the Salford Community Stadium when Cole crashed over the try line to make it 5-0, but Sale turned it around in the 10th minute when Warr headed over the line from a ruck five yards out as George Ford would add. conversion.

The Tigers had Ollie Hassell-Collins in the sin bin a minute later following a TMO review before the referee brandished a yellow card for a high tackle on Manu Tuilagi.

Sale extended their lead to nine in the 14th minute when Taylor strode over the try line on his 150th Sharks appearance after a well-orchestrated lineout before Ford added the conversion.

An opportunistic interception by Scott on halfway allowed him to run in for Leicester’s second try and Pollard’s conversion made it 14-12 in the 18th minute.

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In the 35th minute, James, in his final home game before leaving his boyhood club this summer, got Sale’s third try after superb quick hands from the Sharks before Ford added the conversion to make it 21 -12.

A Tigers Jamie Shillcock penalty on the break from Sale’s half made it 21-15 but the hosts secured a bonus try point five minutes after the break after sustained attacking pressure as O’ Flaherty pounced on an attack. James kick.

Sale controlled proceedings in the second half, extending their lead to 16 points just before the hour mark with a Ford penalty.

Charlie Clare picked up Leicester’s second yellow as panic gripped the Tigers defense in the 67th minute after an impressive counter-attack down the length of the pitch was led by Tuilagi in his final home action for Sale.

Martin scored Leicester’s third try in the 75th minute and Shillcock converted from a tight angle, a consolation for the visitors as Sale saw out the game 31-22.

The impressive win sets up a final clash between Sale and Saracens for a place in the Premiership play-offs.

teams

Sharks for sale: 15 Sam James, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Rob du Preez, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 Tom O’Flaherty, 10 George Ford, 9 Gus Warr, 8 Jean-Luc du Preez, 7 Sam Dugdale, 6 Ben Curry (c), 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 James Harper, 2 Tommy Taylor, 1 Bevan Rodd
Substitutes: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Si McIntyre, 18 WillGriff John, 19 Ben Bamber, 20 Ernst van Rhyn, 21 Raffi Quirke, 22 Rekeiti Ma’asi White, 23 Arron Reed

Leicester Tigers: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Jamie Shillcock, 13 Matt Scott, 12 Dan Kelly, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Tommy Reffell, 6 Hanro Liebenberg (c), 5 Harry Wells, 4 George Martin, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Charlie Clare, 1 Francois van Wyk
Substitutes: 16 Nic Dolly, 17 James Whitcombe, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Finn Carnduff, 20 Olly Cracknell, 21 Tom Whiteley, 22 Phil Cokanasiga, 23 Solomone Kata

Referee: Christopher Ridley
Assistant referees: Jack Makepeace, Jamie Leahy
TMO: Ian Tempest

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