MATCH FACTS Sharks 33 (25): Tries: Robinson, Fullarton, Hanley, Mayor Cons: Hercus 2 Pens: Hercus 2 Drop: Hercus Tykes 20 (6): Tries: Scarbrough 2 Cons: Ross 2 Pens: Ross 2

The Sharks led 25-6 at half-time after Jason Robinson, lock Iain Fullarton and wing Steve Hanley all scored tries.

Fly-half Mike Hercus kicked two penalties and two conversions and added a drop goal in the second half.

Leeds fought back with two Dan Scarbrough tries but Chris Mayor's fourth try sealed victory for Sale.

There was an injury concern for England coach Sir Clive Woodward as Leeds hooker Mark Regan - a contender to replace Steve Thompson against Wales - was forced off with a bruised shoulder in the second half.

And the Tykes were left licking their wounds after a poor first-half display in which they allowed the home side to build an insurmountable lead.

England star Robinson exposed some threadbare defence by scything his way over in the sixth minute, Hercus' conversion giving Sale an early 7-0 advantage.

Sarries swoop for Fullarton

Gordon Ross did get Leeds on the board with a penalty but the Sharks scored a second try after 13 minutes, Hercus sending lock Iain Fullarton over in the right corner.

The American fly-half missed the conversion and two subsequent penalty attempts that might have put Sale out of sight inside half an hour.

But Ross' second penalty kept Leeds in touch, only for Hercus to find his range with two solid kicks at goal.

We have no complaints. Sale outplayed us in all departments Leeds coach Phil Davies

And the Tykes found themselves even further adrift after Sale scored with the final move of the half.

A lack of communication between Colm Rigney and Matt Cardey handed them an attacking line-out and Hanley beat Cardey's weak tackle to score in the left corner.

Sale's concentration seemed to wane after Australian centre Graeme Bond was stretchered off with a neck injury early in the second half after being knocked out cold at a tackle.

Robinson danced past four Tykes tacklers but the Leeds fightback started when Ross and Cardey combined to send Scarbrough over on the hour, moments after he had been denied a try by Hanley's cynical push.

The guys fought it out and it was a great win Sale fly-half Mike Hercus

Hercus immediately replied with a sweet drop goal but Leeds' persistence was rewarded with a second Scarbrough score with 10 minutes left.

Ross converted both to reduce the deficit to eight, but replacement centre Mayor capitalised on smart work from Alex Sanderson and Mark Cueto to seal victory.

"It is tremendous for a club like ours to get to a Cup final," said Sharks coach Jim Mallinder, who signed a three-year contract extension on Friday.

"I am delighted for all the players, coaching staff and the owner Brian Kennedy."

Leeds: Cardey, Scarbrough,Christophers, Snyman, Albanese, Ross, Dickens, Shelley, Regan, Kerr, Hooper, Palmer, Rigney, Hyde, Popham. Replacements: Holt, Powell, Murphy, Morgan, Stuart-Smith, Hodge, Davies.