Leicester Tigers produced a blistering performance away from home, scoring five first half tries and securing their first win of this Premiership season.

An opening try from Charlotte Fray was followed by tries from Leah Bartlett, Meg Jones, Julia Omokhuale and Amy Cokayne in the opening 40 minutes before Jones secured the victory with a sumptuous second score.

A dream start in the winter sunshine saw Fray put Tigers ahead in the opening two minutes.

The score, officially Tigers’ fastest ever in Premiership Women’s Rugby, comes from the line out; Tigers play a series of tight phases, with the forwards crashing up with intent and scrum half Amy Relf distributing rapidly from the base. A lovely offload sees Fray steam through and have the gas to splash over.

Tess Feury slots the conversion and it’s a rapid start, with the hosts then wasting no time in coming back. From a scrum, the ball is flung long and wing Holly Thorpe has the gas to run it in and touch down in the corner, cutting the deficit to two points.

This is a real tennis match as moments later we get our first taste of Meg magic. The Olympian skipping past three, four players before being brought down. Quick ball from Relf gets the ball to prop Leah Bartlett who hits soft shoulders and crashes home.

There are great lines from the likes of Julia Omokhuale and strong defence from Tahlia Brody before Natasha Jones wins a turnover in midfield.

Although Leicester knock it on, the third try is secured moments later. From the scrum, Sale misplace the pass and Jones seizes on the ball, sprinting it home unopposed.

A couple of minutes later the try bonus point is secured, the third quickest from any side in Premiership Women’s Rugby this season.

Julia Omokhuale, so destructive so far, drives through two tackles to touch down, after successive tap penalties and short lines from both Jones’ and Eva Donaldson had set a platform.

There’s an absolutely monstrous carry from the lock just moments later, a collision that rings round the Salford Community Stadium as Omokhuale bounces tighthead prop Detysha Harper. Tigers enjoy a couple of half breaks through the likes of Emily Henrich and Evie Wills but the execution means the battle rages on in midfield.

Sharks look to build up and make it to the Leicester 22 but an astute turnover relieves the pressure. Five minutes later, a second turnover on halfway allows Tigers to begin building again, the relentless defensive efforts paying dividends.

Tigers play a couple of phases but an unfortunate knock on grants a scrum. This is not the reprieve the hosts may thing as Leicester bulldoze the scrum against the head and win a penalty, duly kicked to touch.

From here, Amy Cokayne gets her first try of the season with a picture perfect maul. Thrown right to the tail and claimed high from Eva Donaldson, the maul is rumbling immediately upon landing, the hooker at the back and splashing down to extend the lead on the stroke of half time.

Meg Jones knocks over the conversion with aplomb and hits the Basketball free throw celebration as we enter the break.

Half time score: Sale Sharks 05 – 29 Leicester Tigers

An early line out gives Tigers their first platform to attack; the ball whipped wide is tipped on beautifully by Natasha Jones to a charging Fray who makes great post-contact metres with a strong drive.

Scrappy play from both sides means possession changes hands several times in the Sale half as Tigers dominate possession. The endeavour from the whole side has been superb, every hard line supported and secured, the tackling immense as Tigers just continue to edge their way upfield.

The North American back three of Tess Feury, Emily Henrich and Claire Gallagher have worked tirelessly across the park as Tigers use the full width of the field to probe the defence.

However, Sharks take their best chance of the half and get the score. Wing Sophie Hopkins breaks down the right hand side and makes it to the Tigers 22. She’s brought down by Gallagher but three straight minutes of Sharks short lines follow. Leicester hold on under mountains of pressure but the hosts keep their cool and eventually prop Catie Benson gets over the line.

A minute later and the Leicester lead is reestablished. The ball is shifted gracefully down the line and Meg Jones kicks into an arcing run. Spotting she’s got the beating of her opposite number, Jones straightens up and turns on the gas, sprinting through the gap and running over in the corner for her second score of the game.

As the minutes tick down to the final 10, Sale throw the kitchen sink at Leicester, searching for the two scores that will grant them a try bonus. Despite their lead, Tigers are giving Sharks nothing whatsoever and a few minutes of gainline defence lead to a penalty won inside the 22.

Sharks win it back however and keep charging, lifted by a vocal home support, get a final score.

Full time score: Sale Sharks 17 – 34 Leicester Tigers

Leicester Tigers will return home on Saturday, December 7 when Saracens are welcomed to Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

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