Where there is a Will, there is a way…as Addison hits Tigers for six as Sharks triumph

Will’s late penalty for Sale secured a second Premiership win of the season in a thrilling game of seven tries against Leicester.  The Sale centre kicked six attempts from six to ensure the hosts sealed victory

It marked a special day for the Sharks as it was their 200th in the Premiership .  The match was a breathtaking affair and got off to an incredible start and with the two sides exchanging five tries within the first 30 minutes.

Peter Betham’s two tries saw Leicester lead early in the game 14-7 after Mike Phillips’ scored Sale’s opener.  The former Wales scrum-half  scoring  with a quick break through a static Leicester’s defence.

But then Paolo Odogwu, the former Leicester player,  and Johnny Leota turned the tables on the Tigers  putting Sale into a 24-20 half-time lead, with Halani Aulika adding a bonus-point fourth try after the break.

Leicester’s fly-half Owen Williams twice reduced the lead to a point, but prop Aulika’s second try in as many weeks kept Sale ahead after the break, but he was eventually showed the yellow card for infringing at the maul.

The Tigers hit back with Adam Thompstone’s scoring  in the corner while Sale were a man short.  It was looking pretty desperate for the Sharks, but the home side’s robust defence was solid and kept the Tigers at bay to record an impressive victory.

Steve Diamond, Sale’s director of rugby said after the match :”Leicester are obviously a top side and I think we did well to beat them in the end. To come out of a game where we didn’t get a scrum all day, you’ve got to be delighted. We gave five penalties away on our put-in today, which is unheard of with our scrum.”

Sale Sharks: McGuigan; Edwards, Addison, Leota, Odogwu; MacGinty, Phillips; Harrison, Briggs, Longbottom, Evans, Mills, Neild, Seymour, Beaumont (capt).

Replacements: Lewis-Roberts, Aulika, Ostrikov, Lund, Pearce, Mitchell, Mugford, Bedlow.

Leicester Tigers: Veauinu; Thompstone, Betham, Tait, Brady; Williams, Youngs; Genge, McGuigan, Cole; Slater (capt), Fitzgerald, Williams, O’Connor, McCaffrey.

Replacements: Youngs, Mulipola, Bateman, Barrow, Kitchener, Kitto, Worth, Smith.

Sale (24) 34Tries: Phillips, Odogwu, Leota, Aulika Cons: Addison 4 Pen: Addison 2

Leicester (20) 30Tries: Betham 2, Thompstone Cons: O Williams 3 Pens: O Williams 3