Leicester Tigers 48 Sale Sharks 10 (From Messenger Newspapers)

Leicester Tigers 48 Sale Sharks 10

11:52am Tuesday 5th March 2013 in Sport

SALE Sharks lost to a very competent Leicester Tigers side in the early spring sunshine at Welford Road by six tries to one.

Tom Croft caught the kick off from George Ford and Tigers built pressure. Sharks conceded a first minute penalty which Ford converted to give the home side a 3-0 lead.

It took Sharks time to settle and Dan Braid was the first to penetrate the Tigers defence on 20 mins when Sharks made it into Tigers 22. The attack petered out but Sharks had pegged Tigers back near their own line.

On 24 minutes Sharks did well to hold Thompstone up over the line and it must be said Sharks were doing well to hold out the Tigers. Two minutes later the Tigers finally scored a try through Ed Slater after sustained pressure and George Ford converted 10-0.

Sharks got on the scoreboard on 31 minutes when from half way Nick Macleod put in a towering kick to land his 14th penalty of the season 10-3. It was short lived though as Sharks concede a penalty on 20 metres and George Ford kicks it no problem 13-3.

Referee Barnes awarded a penalty try to Tigers on 35 minutes when Brady tackled Thompstone without the ball and George Ford converted 20-3. Worse still Brady was binned for the offence.

Sharks tried in vain to try and reduce the arrears but on the stroke of half time Ed Slater picked up the ball 40 metres out and ran through the defence to score wide out. Ford converted and Sharks left the field with a mountain to climb after the break Half Time Leicester Tigers 27 Sale Sharks 3 Sale Sharks had a short half time break and were back on the field well before the Tigers. Sale made two quick replacements with Powell and Gray on for Vernon and McKenzie.

Tigers scored their fourth try on 49 minutes when Matt Smith finished a Ford creation by touching down in the corner. Ford converted an Sharks were struggling at 34-3 down.

Cipriani, Fowles and Taylor were brought on for Macleod,Willis and Jones as Sharks tried to salvage their pride.

Matt Smith had other ideas though as he sliced through the Sharks defence on 53 minutes for his second try in 4 minutes. Ford converted again to give Tigers a 41-3 lead David Seymour made a big break down the middle but lacked support and Tigers were soon on the attack again.

Sharks replacements held firm for a short while but Tigers scored again through Matt Tait on 67 mins and Ford's conversion made it 48-3 and this try made it Sharks biggest Aviva defeat of the season. Jordan Davies who had earlier replaced Tuitupou hobbled off so Sharks had to play on with just 14 men.

Sharks did get a try in the final minute. Referee Barnes gave Sharks five penalties back to back and Powell broke from the back of scrum to touch down, Cipriani converted.