Leicester Tigers storm back to beat Sale Sharks in thriller
On the back foot for much of the game, Leicester relied on their traditional strengths of a resolute set piece and a partisan home backing to roar back from a ten-point half time deficit. These came together in beautiful if brutal harmony for replacement Ilione to be driven over for two tries in the final eight minutes. At the heart of that effort was Leicester's Lion Ollie Chessum, who had a monstrous game at the heart of a dominant Leicester set piece.
Having wrapped up an attacking bonus point by half time, Sale boss Alex Sanderson will be furious at how they let the game slip through a combination of a wobbly lineout and some really lax discipline. Alex Sanderson's team committed 18 turnovers and conceded 13 penalties, of which three were kicked by Handre Pollard, with referee Matt Carley twice marching them back ten metres for dissent and Jonny Hill being sin-binned at the death. A path to the play-offs still remains for Sale but their hopes of a home play-off may have disappeared as they lost to Leicester for the first time in three years.
It overshadowed a masterful performance by fly-half George Ford, who was overlooked in the Lions squad selection this week, who had a direct hand in three of Sale's five tries, including a rarely seen show-and-go to create a score for winger Arron Reed. There was also a scare for Lions head coach Andy Farrell as Sale flanker Tom Curry went off in the first half with an apparent hamstring injury.
This is not a welcome sight 😬
British & Irish Lions call-up Tom Curry has left the pitch early tonight. Hopefully the decision is only a precautionary move 🤞 #GallagherPrem | #LEIvSAL pic.twitter.com/PJEwUtH0DA
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) May 9, 2025
Sale had spoken all week about making a fast start and they duly did by scoring a try within two minutes. A scrum penalty allowed Ford to kick to the corner and some backs reinforcements gave the maul the impetus for Cowan-Dickie to be pushed over, although the Lions hooker seemed to hurt himself in the process.
With the stakes so high, it was no surprise that Leicester hit back straight away. A good charge by Ollie Chessum laid the platform and then some beautiful hands from Joseph Woodward and Handre Pollard put the red-hot Radwan over. Pollard converted and added a penalty from a scrum to give Leicester a 10-5 lead.
While a touch loose with their discipline, Sale were razor sharp in attack and their second try was a beautiful bit of midfield play. Rob Du Preez timed his pass perfectly for centre partner Rekeiti Ma'asi-White who cut a devastating line that left full-back Freddie Steward clutching thin air. Leicester regained the lead with a pair of Pollard penalties before Ford showed exactly why he was robbed of a place in the Lions touring party in creating a try for Reed.
After Pollard kicked Leicester to within three points, Ford showcased another side to his game with a monster penalty to within ten metres of the Leicester tryline right on half-time. Rather than go for the maul again, Sale opted to use their heavy artillery before Ford put Du Preez under the posts.
Right from the restart 🤯
Robert du Preez has a second of the night to keep Sale Sharks right in it 👊 #GallagherPrem | #LEIvSAL pic.twitter.com/Cl32zxg7Tt
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) May 9, 2025
Sale dominated the opening to the second half but then Pollard suddenly produced a brilliant kick pass to set Hassell-Collins free down the right-hand touchline. He finished superbly with a little stutter step to go past Ford in the corner. Pollard's penalty brought Leicester back to within three points.
After Ford was charged down, Cowan-Dickie decided to throw over the top five metres from his own tryline, only for Ben Curry to knock the ball on and Hassell-Collins stepped inside two defenders to have a clear run under the posts. A Ford penalty brought Sale back to 30-29.
But then came Leicester's party piece – the close-range maul with Ilione twice dotting down either side of a Rob Du Preez try from another Ford assist in a grandstand finish at Welford Road.
Comeback complete ✅
#GallagherPrem table 👏
Look at what it means. pic.twitter.com/iHU2aj50ih
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) May 9, 2025
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