Leicester Tigers were convincingly defeated, 40-5, away from home by Sale Sharks in the final fixture of the calendar year for both sides.

The Tigers were forced into some unconventional changes to the line-up throughout the second-half after four players were forced from the field with injuries.

Leicester had the perfect start, kicking off deep into Sale’s half only for the home side to knock-on in the first phase of the game and hand a scrum to the visitors on the Sharks 22m line.

However, Sale won a penalty against the feed and kicked themselves clear of danger.

Richard Wigglesworth was forced into his first change before the first quarter was complete when Olly Cracknell was taken from the field for a Head Injury Assessment, which the Leicester No8 failed, and replaced by Sean Jansen at the back of the pack.

The Sharks were penalised five times to Tigers’ one in the first 15 minutes, but three successive kicks for the corner were unable to produce points and it was the hosts who scored first - nearing the 20 minute mark - when Robert du Preez landed a long-range penalty-goal.

Sale’s fly-half kicked two more from the tee to see his side out to a 9-0 lead approaching the break, before they crossed for their first try of the night - through Tom O'Flaherty - with some impressive interplay down the right hand touchline.

A successful conversion from du Preez ensured a 16-0 lead with only minutes remaining.

Guy Porter, who suffered a facial injury, was replaced by Chris Ashton in the final stages of the first-half before the home crowd thought they had another, with just one-second remaining before the break, however the TMO intervened and found a knock-on from Arron Reed in the attempted put down.

Trailing by 16 points, Tigers were dealt a blow at the break when Anthony Watson was unable to return and replaced by Freddie Burns.

A runaway try in the early stages of the second-half to Handré Pollard, who read a Sale attack perfectly and intercepted a pass before running 40m to score in his first start for the club.

Pollard was unsuccessful in converting his own try, before being replaced by Ben Youngs only minutes later which forced Jack van Poortvliet from scrum-half to full-back and Burns into fly-half.

However, van Poortvliet found himself at fly-half not long after when Burns suffered a leg injury and had to be helped from the field by medical staff.

Sale took advantage of the extra man in attack, with Burns down in backplay, scoring their second and followed it up with a penalty try soon after.

A lack of options remaining on the Leicester bench meant front-rower Gabriel Oghre was injected into the game as a makeshift centre, forcing Wigglesworth into more on-the-go changes to his backline.

Up against a depleted Tigers side, Sale ran in two more tries before full-time to secure the 35-point win.