SALE Sharks managed to get a 15-15 draw against northern rivals Newcastle Falcons, despite having led 15-8 at a wet and bitterly cold AJ Bell Stadium in the Aviva Premiership.

Danny Cipriani kicked off towards the Wooden Spoon Stand and it only took two minutes for the Sharks to get their first points on the board, as the Falcons were penalised for bringing down Sharks driving maul.

Cipriani stepped up and got the kick to make it 3-0.

Credit to the Falcons as they fought back and were very patient with their possession, building up the phases, however they couldn't quite find the final touch to get their first points of the game in the first 10 minutes.

After 12 minutes, Jonathan Mills was penalised for coming in the side of the ruck, and Newcastle fly-half Mike Delany took full advantage of this and scored the three points to make it 3-3.

It was becoming a dogged affair, with both sides demonstrating their kicking capabilities, with scrum halves Michael Young and Chris Cusiter orchestrating play through their box kicks.

After 23 minutes, the Sharks extended their lead thanks to the boot of Danny Cipriani. This made the score 6-3.

Newcastle Falcons fought back straight away as Michael Young chipped the ball through into the Sharks 22, and Tom Arscott gathered the ball, but was turned over.

The Falcons were attacking five metres from the try-line, and following a number of pick and gos, prop Rob Vickers buried his way over to get the try.

Tom Catterick missed the conversion, which made it 6-8 after 26 minutes.

The Falcons had certainly done their homework on the Sharks as they nullified their driving maul in the first half and stopped a number of promising positions for the hosts.

On the half-hour, Newcastle were penalised for hands in the ruck and Cipriani slotted it over the penalty in front of the posts to make it 9-8.

The Sharks extended their lead with another penalty just before the interval.

With the rain making conditions difficult, Cipriani kept the scoreboard ticking over with another penalty.

There was numerous knock on's and kicks which disrupted the rhythm of the game, and really made it stop-start affair.

With 20 minutes left, the Falcons tried to maul the ball over the line, but the Sharks defended that well and brought it to ground.

However, they didn't have to wait too much longer for a score as prop Jon Welsh crashed over from close range.

Tom Catterick got the conversion to bring the scores level heading into the final 8 minutes of the game.

The try gave the visitors a lot of confidence as they looked to get the next score, and they had the chance through a penalty from a driving maul but replacement fly-half Tom Catterick dragged his kick wide of the posts.

At the death, Cipriani had the chance to give the Sharks the victory with the last kick of the game, however his kick went wide as the Sharks had to settle for a share of the spoils.

SHARKS: Mike Haley, Tom Arscott, Sam James, Sam Tuitupou (Mark Jennings, 72), Will Addison, Danny Cipriani, Chris Cusiter(Peter Stringer, 58), Ross Harrison (Eifion Lewis-Roberts, 58), Tommy Taylor, Vadim Cobilas(Brian Mujati, 58), Bryn Evans, Jonathan Mills (Andrei Ostrikov, 58), Dan Braid (c), Magnus Lund (Viliami Fihaki) and TJ Ioane.

Substitutes not used: Cameron Neild and Joe Ford