Leicester Tigers emphatically claimed their first ever Premiership home win, five tries in a rampant first half setting the stage for an invaluable bonus point victory.

With a hat trick from Meg Jones, two from Emily Henrich and a Charlotte Fray score, Tigers were unstoppable at times at a chilly Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

It takes a couple of minutes for either side to get a foothold in the game but when Leicester do they make it worthwhile.

Successive gain line carries from Charlotte Fray and Julia Omokhuale get Tigers into the opposition half before the side keep it tight. However, on the fifth phase, scrum half Amy Relf switches the play and Meg Jones gets her hands on the ball for the first time.

Taking an arcing line, she looks to pass wide but instead straightens up, flying past her trailing marker and diving over to open the score.

A couple of minutes later and Tigers have their second. A smooth kick off routine sees Fray crash up again before a flat pass sees a break from Katie Childs in midfield.

A penalty is won, kicked to touch for a line out and just as Sale think they’ve halted the maul, thje ball is popped out the back for wing Emily Henrich to dive over.

Five minutes later, the third comes. After virtually five full minutes of possession and continuous probing of the line, Meg Jones bags her second, weaving inward and outward and slipping through an impossible gap to score her second.

Two minutes later the hat trick is complete. Yet another solid scrum, the best in the league in percentage terms and firing on all cylinders, sets a fantastic base and the backs attack the open side.

Meg fills in at fly half and whips the ball to namesake Natasha on a hard line. Tash crashes through and executes the two on one with the onrushing fullback, Meg receiving the ball back and diving over.

The bonus point secured, the game settled down slightly as Sale rally well.

The cold beginning to set in, handling becomes spotty as play rages in midfield. Sharks enjoy a good number of minutes in the Leicester half but the hosts don’t appear threatened, defending strongly and not allowing for any line breaks.

Wrestling possession back, Francesca McGhie is almost free for a wonder try but play is called back for an earlier infringement before, a moment or so later, Claire Gallagher’s punt through nearly claimed by the Scottish wing.

Keeping the pressure on, it finally told when a penalty is won and kicked to touch. Leicester get their fifth through Charlotte Fray who fittingly bags her fifth try of the season, barreled over as part of a rumbling rolling maul on the stroke of half time.

Half time: Leicester Tigers 31 – 0 Sale Sharks                    

In stark juxtaposition to the first half, Sale enjoyed early territory in the second, working their way into the Tigers 22 before strong defence forces a knock on and allows the side to win the ball back.

Opting to play out from their own line, Leicester make their own way up field, Meg almost pulling off a chip and chase but the ball is fielded well and the clearance hit a Tigers paw to grant an advantageous throw to Sharks.

The visitors end up making the most of this, keeping play tight before whipping it wide for wing Sophie Hopkins to score in the corner and bag the visitors their first points of the game.

Leicester then came back into the contest, utilizing their quick offloads to burst holes in the Sale defence.

Eventually making their way up to the Sale line through careful handling and thunderous lines, Meg Jones (that name again) switches the whole game with a skyward cross field kick – one on one with her opposing wing, USA Eagle Emily Henrich soars through the air to claim the ball and land over the line for her second score of the match.

Celebrations are short lived however as Sale rumble over from short range after Leicester concede successive penalties.

It looks like they may well get another but Tigers hold firm, get bodies beneath the ball and hold it up before clearing back to halfway. When Sale come again, substitute Tiana Gordon does tremendously to get right over the ball and force a turnover. 

Both sides have emptied the bench and are fighting for that final score. Jordan Russell carries hard before Gallagher clears long and Henrich hauls down the chasing wing. A couple of minutes later, Tess Feury does superbly to chase across and smash a breaking Shark.

Although Sale get a final score, the whistle blows moments later and Tigers can celebrate.

Full time: Leicester Tigers 38 – 17 Sale Sharks