Late penalty try guides Sale Sharks to 16-18 win over Leicester Tigers

Leicester Tigers 16-18 Sale Sharks, Welford Road

A penalty try in the closing stage of the game proved vital as Sale Sharks edged out Leicester Tigers 16-18 in their Premiership Rugby Cup encounter at Welford Road on Friday.

Robert du Preez kicked a 11th minute penalty goal to get Sale Sharks off the mark after Leicester Tigers were punished for a high tackle. The visitors stretched the lead to 0-8 when Rob Webber crossed over from a rolling maul.

Leicester Tigers' response came when Tom Hardwick kicked a 22nd minute penalty goal that was cancelled out by a three-pointer from du Preez in the 24th minute.

Nevertheless, the Tigers ensured they finished the first half strong with Guy Thompson touching down in the 39th minute with Hardwick kicking a penalty goal and a conversion on either side to take the scoreline to 13-11 before the break.

The Leicester fly-half further stretched their lead to five points with another penalty goal in the 53rd minute but when three minutes were left in the game the home side were penalised for a succession of offences close to the line that led to Facundo Gigena sin-binned.

From the resulting line-out, Sale Sharks applied more pressure to earn a penalty try that saw the visitors complete a 16-18 victory.

The win has taken Sale Sharks to the third position in Pool 2 with Leicester Tigers languishing at the bottom of the table.