Sale (9) 15
Pens: Hodgson 5
Leeds (7) 12
Tries: Fa'afili, Stephenson Cons: Jarvis

Sale's win puts them 12 points clear of Leeds in the Premiership table

Sale all but secured their Premiership status for another season with victory over bottom side Leeds in an unrefined encounter at Edgeley Park.

Henry Fa'Afili's converted try gave Leeds an early lead, after Charlie Hodgson had put Sale 3-0 in front.

Adrian Jarvis twice hit the post with penalty attempts before Hodgson kicked the hosts 9-7 ahead at the break.

Hodgson added two more penalties in the second half before Michael Stephenson's try secured Leeds a losing bonus point.

It was another priceless performance from the Sale number 10, who is set to depart for Saracens at the end of the season.

In comparison Jarvis missed three shots at goal in the first half before firing wide with another after the break and failing to convert Stephenson's late try.

Hodgson gave the Sharks a three-point lead with a penalty from the first scrum before Leeds hit back with a try inside five minutes from centre Fa'afili, following a miss-throw at the line-out. Jarvis coolly landed the difficult conversion.

Sale came close themselves minutes later when Andy Tuilagi burst through the midfield and Hodgson's miss-pass nearly saw over Ben Cohen over in the corner, but he was caught by a great covering tackle from Stephenson.

Jarvis missed the chance to put Leeds a score clear when he hit the post with a penalty attempt from 50 metres.

The visiting forwards, without skipper Marco Wentzel who was ruled out with injury before kick-off, were dominant in the opening quarter as they kept the ball tight and looked to have the game under control.

But after Leeds were penalised for holding on just inside the Sale half, Hodgson stepped up to land a huge penalty and bring the hosts back to within a point on 25 minutes.

Sale are yet to sign a worthy replacement for Hodgson next season

Jarvis then hit the upright again minutes later when Sale entered the ruck from the side.

Eifion Lewis-Roberts came on to steady the Sale scrum but soon after Tuilagi, who had been Sale's main attacking option, left the field injured just after the half hour.

The Sharks pressed for their first try as the half concluded and, despite being held up close to the Leeds line, took the lead when referee Wayne Barnes called them back for a penalty in front of the posts which Hodgson slotted with ease to make it 9-7.

Sale-bound Luther Burrell thought he had scored in the opening exchanges of the second half after good pressure from the Carnegie pack but was denied by a foot in touch.

Sale forged into Leeds' half with a good run by Nick MacLeod and after a penalty was reversed for back-chat Hodgson nudged his side 12-7 ahead.

The Sharks pinned Leeds back onto their line and crossed over but the attempt was deemed to have been held up.

The home side finally gained dominance in the scrum and were awarded a penalty from the set piece on 55 minutes to make it 15-9.

Leeds fought back valiantly and enjoyed some sustained pressure but unforced errors and stout Sale defending denied them.

With three minutes remaining they rallied again and Stephenson finished off a break in the left corner although Jarvis missed the conversion.

The losing bonus point was no more than Leeds deserved but time is now running out for the men from West Yorkshire.

Sale executive director of sport Steve Diamond:
"Leeds came out as the fighting force that they are and we did well to turn around at half-time in front.

"It was an error-strewn game but fortunately we just got the four points which hopefully gives us a bit of breathing space."

Leeds head coach Neil Back:
"It's all about belief and commitment, and at the moment we've got huge belief and a very committed squad.

"It's possible to stay up. We went through it last year, coming out with the same sort of messages, and I believe we will get the job done this year as well.

"And the players believe that too because they want to play in the Premiership."

Sale: MacLeod, Cohen, Bell, Tuilagi, Cueto, Hodgson, Peel, Imiolek, Briggs, Thomas, C. Jones, Lewaravu, Gaskell, McMillan, Koyamaibole.

Replacements: Tonetti for Tuilagi (34), Cliff for Peel (75), E. Roberts for Imiolek (28), M. Jones for Briggs (78), Cox for C. Jones (63), Seymour for McMillan (54).

Sin Bin: Cueto (78).

Leeds: Stephenson, Blackett, Fa'afili, Burrell, Wackett, Jarvis, Mathie, MacDonald, Thompson, Swainston, Browne, Hohneck, Myall, Fourie, To'oala.

Replacements: Tadulala for Fa'afili (78), Hardy for MacDonald (32), Freer for Thompson (55), Gomez for Swainston (62), Paul for Hohneck (71), Oakley for To'oala (66).

Att: 6,972

Ref: Wayne Barnes (RFU).

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