England back Austin Healey made a successful return from injury as Leicester
kept their slim Zurich Premiership play-off hopes alive with a hard-fought
victory over Sale.
Healey was forced to miss England's RBS 6 Nations campaign and a large chunk
of the Tigers' season with groin and Achilles problems but he played a prominent
role in Sale's defeat today after being handed the fly-half duties.
Although over-ambitious at times, he provided the creativity that Leicester's
back play has often lacked in his four-month absence, setting up one try and
showing his strength and determination to touch down for the opener.
But the star of the show was Ireland winger Geordan Murphy who contributed to
every Leicester try and crossed for one of his own in the first half, giving
another exhibition of his superb handling skills and blistering pace.
The Tigers appeared to be coasting to victory shortly before the interval but
the Sharks hit back with two tries in first-half injury time as Graeme Bond and
Dean Schofield both touched down.
From then on it was a much closer contest, although Leicester always had the
edge, claiming a try-scoring bonus point when Freddie Tuilagi crossed in 47th
minute.
The opening exchanges were marked by several flashpoints and referee Steve
Lander warned Sale's Kevin Yates and Leicester's Darren Garforth in a bid to
restore some order.
It was the Tigers who settled first, showing great handling to run-in a
spectacular ninth-minute try. Tim Stimpson made the initial break before feeding
Murphy who raced down the right touchline.
Murphy's path was blocked by Jason Robinson but Healey was in support, and he
took the final pass before scrambling over the line.
Both sets of forwards continued to play with gusto but Sharks number eight
Pete Anglesea over-stepped the mark in the 15th minute when he was caught
stamping on Dorian West, an infringement that earned him 10 minutes in the
sin-bin.
Leicester made full use of the extra man by launching another attack down the
right with Healey and Martin Corry combining to send Murphy over in the corner.
Stimpson stroked over a tricky conversion and then added two quickfire
penalties, lifting the Tigers into an ominous 18-0 lead.
Leicester were at their rampant best, using Martin Johnson and Corry to build
momentum up-front before releasing to livewire winger Steve Booth who almost
wriggled his way through the Sale defence on two occasions.
The Sharks just could not get their hands on the ball and they fell further
behind in the 37th minute when Murphy sent centre Leon Lloyd galloping over with
Stimpson again adding the extras.
But with the half nearing its conclusion, they managed to haul themselves back
into the match. First Bond crossed in the 40th minute after some strong running
from the former Wallaby centre.
Then two minutes later second row Schofield used his considerable bulk to
power through two tackles during a 20-metre dash before forcing his way over.
Jos Baxendell landed both conversions to slash the Tigers' lead to nine
points.
But Leicester were soon back in control, Healey firing a long miss-pass to
Murphy who offloaded to Tuilagi and the powerful winger - playing at centre
today - raced through unchallenged.
Baxendell booted another two penalties but then Stimpson completed the
afternoon's scoring with a penalty of his own, guaranteeing a result which lifts
Leicester to fourth in the table.
Teams:
Leicester: Stimpson, Murphy, Lloyd, Tuilagi, Booth, Healey,
Tierney, Freshwater, West, Garforth, M. Johnson, Corry,
Kronfeld, Back, W. Johnson.
Replacements: Chuter, Kay, Tournaire, Balding, Vesty, Gelderbloom,
Raynor.
Tries: Healey, Murphy, Lloyd, Tuilagi.
Cons: Stimpson 2.
Pens: Stimpson 3.
Sale: Robinson, Cueto, Harris, Bond, Hanley, Baxendell,
Redpath, Yates, Titterell, Turner, C. Jones, Schofield, Davies,
Pinkerton, Anglesea.
Replacements: Marais, Thorp, Fullarton, Wilks, Elliott, Going,
Walshe.
Tries: Bond, Schofield.
Cons: Baxendell 2.
Pens: Baxendell 2.
Att: 16,800
Ref: Steve Lander (RFU).
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