A physical match saw hosts Sale Sharks come away with the victory. Leicester Tigers started strong and held the lead for most of the first half but a strong second period saw the Sharks pull away and secure a home victory.
Tigers were on top early on after winning a scrum penalty and playing tight phases. Freddie Steward burst through for the first line break of the game while Handré Pollard pulled the strings, a whipped miss pass almost releasing Ollie Hassell-Collins who slipped right before the line on what looked a certain try.
However, Leicester stayed patient and kept it in the forwards, George Martin and Charlie Clare burrowing relentlessly until finally Nicky Smith drove over for the game’s opening score and his first ever try in a Tigers jersey.
Leicester stayed on top, a second scrum penalty allowing inroads into the Sale half, a third following shortly afterwards which gave Pollard a chance to kick for three points, the Springbok coolly doing the honours.
The hosts fired back a few minutes later through No. 8 Dan du Preez. Celebrating a century of Sale appearances, the backrow collected the ball wide from a slick offload that followed a cross field kick. However, Pollard’s penalty shortly after reextended the visitors advantage to six points.
Olly Cracknell almost grabbed a wonder score after shooting through from midfield unopposed but Sharks brought down the No. 8 and won a turnover, one mirrored minutes later to grant possession in Tigers 22.
The hosts then went ahead, prop Bevan Rodd blasting over from short range before Rob du Preez slotted the extras to allow the Sharks to lead by a single point with half time looming.
The final minutes see neither side able to break the other down and the teams head into the dressing rooms.
Half time score: Sale Sharks 12 – 11 Leicester Tigers
In a complete reversal of the first half here the hosts fly out of the blocks, wing Arron Reed allowed to splash down in the corner following a break in midfield and two consecutive, well-executed, two-on-ones. Reed gets his second five minutes later as the Sharks continue to move the ball freely.
Sharks blistering second half continued as Asher Opoku-Fordjour picked up from the ruck and darted through a gap to further the hosts lead before Joe Heyes was then shown a yellow card for head contact in the clear out.
As Sale thundered into Tigers, camped on their own try line, the side hold out and somehow new signing Jed Holloway came away with the ball. The lock booted forward, the ball collected by Perese who went to ground. Having sensed Sharks scrambling back, van Poortvliet launched the ball wide and found Kata, who shipped it onto Steward who bumped the tackler to crash down.
Steward came agonizingly close to a second a few minutes later, the hosts saved by a desperation rip of the ball that forced a knock on just as the diving fullback was ready to land over the line.
Sale Sharks then put the game to bed, ten points scored in a handful of moments as a converted rolling maul try was added to by a well-struck penalty from Rob du Preez.
Leicester continued to leave everything out there in search of two potential bonus points. The side drove over with a minute left on the clock through lock Martin and continued to push with the clock in the red but were unable to clinch that fourth try.
