SALE FC slipped to their first home defeat in more than a year as Sheffield Tigers produced a superb defensive display to back up their first half points advantage.

Sale remain top of National Three North, four points clear of Sandal who have two games in hand, with Tigers third, seven points behind Sale.

The match started well for Sale with a try by Jack Moorhouse in the third minute, but from then on it became a difficult task to create the openings for additional scores.

The Yorkshiremen struck back five minutes later with a fine try from Henri Packard after a breakaway in their own 22 saw the winger race in from 50 metres.

Tom Outram added the conversion for a lead the Tigers were not to relinquish.

The visitors extended their lead early in the second quarter when Packard gained possession and raced down the left before putting full back Peter Swatkins clear for their second try, but the conversion from wide out failed.

Sale came back strongly and Tigers replacement prop Mick Ward received a red card from the referee for foul play.

But the hosts’ only response was a penalty from Liam McGovern to narrow the gap to 12-8.

With the final play of the half a loose pass by Sale saw Packard kick ahead and win the race for the touchdown and open up a nine-point lead.

The second half saw Sale pile on the pressure from almost every angle but despite going close to the Tigers line on a number of occasions their only reward was a penalty by McGovern on 57 minutes.

In the final quarter a penalty by Outram extended the Tigers lead before Sale kept up the bombardment of the visitors’ line, but a quite outstanding defensive display kept Sale at bay despite having another player sent to the sin-bin late in the game.