Sale records emphatic win over Tigers

MATCH REPORT: Sale Sharks scored six tries en route to their 39-25 thumping of Leicester Tigers in the Premiership on Sunday.

Sale's tries were scored by Dan du Preez (2), Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Freddie Steward, and George Martin.

The hosts displayed some dazzling attacking play as they produced an emphatic performance to sink Leicester, who simply could not respond sufficiently to stay in the second half.

Midway through the first half the Tigers had only secured eight points from their dominance despite their 25 phases in the Sale 22, with none occurring at the other end of the pitch.

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The Sharks had the lead at the break thanks to tries from Du Preez and Rodd, with a Reed double after the break giving them a crucial buffer which the Tigers did not look like breaching.

The victory lifts Sale to touching distance from the top four, while Leicester missed out on the chance to join Bath and Bristol at the top.

Scorers:

For Leicester:

Tries: Smith, Steward, Martin

Cons: Pollard, Shillcock

Pens: Pollard 2

For Sale:

Tries: Du Preez, Rodd, Reed 2, Opoku-Fordjour, Cowan-Dickie

Cons: Du Preez 3

Pen: Du Preez

Teams:

Leicester Tigers: 15 Freddie Stewart, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Izaia Perese, 12 Solomone Kata, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Jack van Poortvliet (captain), 8 Olly Cracknell, 7 Tommy Reffell, 6 Hanro Liebenberg, 5 Tom Manz, 4 George Martin, 3 Joe Heyes, 2 Charlie Clare, 1 Nicky Smith

Replacements: 16 Archie Vanes, 17 James Cronin, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Jed Holloway, 20 Emeka Ilione, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Jamie Shillcock, 23 Will Wand

Sale Sharks:  15 Joe Carpenter, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Rob du Preez, 12 Luke James, 11 Arron Reed, 10 George Ford, 9 Gus Warr, 8 Dan du Preez, 7 Ben Curry (captain), 6 Tom Curry, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ernst van Rhyn, 3 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Bevan Rodd

Replacements:   16 Tadgh McElroy, 17 Si McIntyre, 18 James Harper, 19 JL du Preez, 20 Tom Burrow, 21 Sam Dugdale, 22 Raffi Quirke, 23 Will Addison.

Referee: Adam Leal

Assistant Referees: Hamish Smales, Peter Allan

TMO: Tom Foley