Leicester Tigers Women’s have fallen 34-14 to Sale Sharks in the opening game of the 2024/25 season.
The Premiership Women’s Rugby ‘Power Up’ fixture saw 12 players make their first appearance for the club, including Scottish international Evie Wills who made her return from long-term injury.
Tigers were first to score, fly-half Natasha Jones showing great strength to drag Sale defenders over the line.
Centre Katie Childs converted to make it 7-0 in the early going.
That score seemed to spark Sale, and the visitors got their first try off the back of a well-worked maul.
Sale were starting to motor, and added a further two scores from close-range, though the visitors did have their struggles from the tee which kept the score close.
Sharks then struck on the stroke of half-time from long-range and with the extras added, took a 22-7 lead into the break.
Leicester were once again the first to work the ball over the line in the second-half. Charlotte Fray’s effort to get the ball down only eclipsed by a beautiful conversion from debutant Emma Mundy.
Sale however were next to score, and off the ensuing kick-off, worked the ball wide and ran away to get their sixth and final try.
Tigers battled to the very end, and grew into the contest, but it would end 34-14 at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
Commentary
FULL TIME AT MATTIOLI WOODS WELFORD ROAD
Tigers flew out of the box with a try just a minute after the break but Sale held out well and added a couple of clinical scores.
Final score: Leicester Tigers 14 - 34 Sale Sharks
HALF-TIME
Tigers opened the scoring through a hard line from Natasha Jones but a later Sharks response sees the visitors three tries ahead.
Half time score: Leicester Tigers 07 - 22 Sale Sharks
KICK OFF
The 2024/25 season is underway for Leicester Tigers women!