Leicester Tigers 29 Sale Sharks 13

Leicester Tigers 29 Sale Sharks 13

DESPITE an excellent first half, Sale Sharks lost this LV Cup tie against Leicester Tigers and will now need to win their last two group games to stand a chance of qualifying for the semi-final stages of the competition next March.

Flanker David Seymour put in a thundering tackle which caused a knock on. Sharks won a penalty at the resultant scrum and Nick McLeod booted it over the sticks with plenty to spare 0-3.

Straight from the kick off Tigers won a penalty at the ruck and Ross Harrison and Tom Bristow had exchanged punches before Freddie Burns levelled the scores at 3-3.

On 14 minutes referee Gamage awarded another penalty to Sharks 30 metres out and Nick McLeod again had no problem adding the three 3-6.

On 18 minutes the Sharks pack steamrolled downfield 25 metres marshalled well by skipper Dan Braid. Nick McLeod opted to kick for goal but was well off target 3-6.

Four minutes later Matt Smith was yellow carded for pulling a player back at the ruck and Sharks went on the offensive to try and make the one man advantage count. On 25 minutes the first try came when Josh Beaumont won the lineout, set up the rolling maul and MICHAEL PATERSON touched down. Nick McLeod converted 3-13.

On 29 minutes the Welford Road crowd influenced the referee when they called for a lineout throw not being straight.

Sharks restarted the game and won a scrum midway inside the Tigers half. Tigers were awarded a penalty and David Seymour had words with the referee which resulted in the penalty being marched downfield another ten metres. From the lineout Tigers started to build and Freddie Burns put Hooker Harry Thacker in under the posts. Freddie Burns converted and it reduced the arrears to three, 10-13.

Leicester were applying all the pressure but the Sharks defence was holding out albeit with some last ditch defending. The dam broke on 52 minutes when Matt Smith crashed over and Freddie Burns converted. Tigers were ahead for the first time, 17-13.

A minute later Miles Benjamin scored in the corner as the Tigers used the one man advantage. Freddie Burns conversion failed but the Tigers were now nine points ahead at 22-13.