Braam van Straaten kicked a penalty deep into injury time as Leeds eked out a 29-29 draw with Sale at Headingley.

The Tykes had held a comanding 14-point lead with only eight minutes left but conceded late tries to Mark Cueto and Steve Hanley.

But former Springbok fly-half van Straaten earned two points for the away side as he powered over a long-range effort five minutes into injury time.

Leeds did their best to stifle Sale's attacking instincts from the kick-off, containing the threat of England full-back Jason Robinson.

It was the Tykes' pack which posted the most potent threat in the first half.

And, as the Sharks' frustration began to show at the lack of attacking opportunities, Cameron Mather and Chris Murphy both scored for the home side.

Mather forced his way over from the back of a ruck after 13 minutes before Murphy added the only other try of the half.

A perfect throw to the back of the lineout from Mark Regan allowed Tom Palmer to set the ball up on the 22.

And the Sharks pack were outmuscled as the Tykes drove unrelentingly before Murphy finally touched down.

England reserve fly-half Charlie Hodgson kept Sale in the contest with a four first-half penalties but he was matched by the equally adept boot of van Straaten, who pushed his side into a 26-12 lead.

Sale rarely looked capable of closing the gap, despite the efforts of Hodgson.

But the opportunity finally arose when Italian wing Diego Albanese was sinbinned with 10 minutes left on the clock for killing the ball.

The extra man finally gave Sale the necessary boost as they cut into the deficit.

An intelligent chip and chase by Hodgson bounced fortunately for Cueto, who outpaced Leeds full-back Dan Scarbrough to the ball for Sale's first try of the night.

Cueto turned provider for Hanley minutes later to level the scores at 26-26 following a comfortably overlap.

And Sale looked to have wrapped up a surprise win when Hodgson kicked a late drop goal.

But van Straaten stepped up as Leeds' rescuer with a magnificent kick from the left wing to maintain his side's winning run in the Premiership.

Leeds: Scarborough, Harder, Davies, van Straaten, Albanese, Ross, Hegarty, Shelley, Regan, Kerr, C. Murphy, Palmer, Mather, Ponton, Fea'unati. Replacements: Wring, Holt, Campbell, Hogg, Dickens, Emmerson, Hall.

Sale: Robinson, Cueto, Baxendell, Harris, Hanley, Hodgson, Walshe, Thorp, Marais, Stewart, Lines, C. Jones, A. Sanderson, Pinkerton, Anglesea. Replacements: Titterrell, Yates, Schofield, Perelini, Deane, Going, Wigglesworth.

Referee: Paul Adams (Welsh RFU).