Sale concluded a league winless streak stretching back to March in fine style by recording their first ever Zurich Premiership victory at Welford Road.

A friendly match in 1974 was the last time the Sharks had stormed Leicester's once impregnable stronghold but the result never seemed in doubt from the moment Graeme Bond crossed in the fifth minute.

Sale were forced to weather a late storm as the Tigers staged their usual fightback but they had done enough to win, largely thanks to the kicking of Braam van Straaten who finished with 17 points.

Leicester have been hit by World Cup call-ups - they have lost seven players to Clive Woodward's England squad - and while they seemed to be coping after recording two wins and a draw from three starts this season, their young side was found wanting.

Substitute Sam Vesty scored a late try to keep the midlands club in touch but the villain of the day was Perpignan-bound Tim Stimpson who completed just three of his seven shots at goal and missing a few sitters in the process.

Leicester started strongly but Sale took the lead in the fifth minute with an opportunist try initiated by flanker Stuart Pinkerton's excellent scavenging work on the floor as the openside leapt on a loose ball as it popped out from a Tigers ruck.

Possession was fed left to winger Steve Hanley who was easily collared by England discard Ollie Smith, but the winger had managed to release former Wallaby Bond who ran 40 yards, escaping two tacklers in the process, before touching down.

Van Straaten added the tricky conversion and despite a Stimpson penalty which slashed the deficit the Sharks were still on top, threatening with a powerful surge from Chris Jones - but he could not release the ball with players queuing up on the right.

Winger Mark Cueto was seeing plenty of ball on the right but he could make little headway against his opposite number John Holtby, although he went close at one point before being bundled into touch.

Leicester were seeing little of the ball thanks to Sale's solid work at the set-piece but when they did Italian fly-half Ramiro Pez looked a handful, mixing-up his play to keep the visitors' defence guessing.

But the Sharks' excellent work up-front meant they were starved of possession, former Wales prop Darren Morris giving away a penalty at a scrum to give van Straaten a routine shot at goal which he gratefully accepted.

In contrast to the South African's success Stimpson was misfiring badly with the boot, missing three kicks in succession which he would normally expect to land.

Sale continued to pile on the pressure and extended their lead with van Straaten's third penalty, a simple shot for former Leeds' centre who was marshalling his backs with considerable success at number 10.

Stimpson was finally successful with a kick, landing from in front of the posts, but Tigers skipper Josh Kronfeld infringed at the breakdown moments later to give van Straaten a long-range three pointer.

But Leicester rarely know when they are beaten and today proved no different, concluding some powerful approach play in the 72nd minute when substitute fly-half Sam Vesty, on for Pez, wriggled through. Stimpson converted.

Van Straaten replied with another penalty but a Stimpson goal set-up a thrilling finale as the Tigers battered away at the visitors line but it was too little, too late and they had to settle for the bonus point.

Teams:

Leicester: Stimpson, Smith, Lloyd, Gibson, Holtby, Pez, Healey, Morris, Chuter, Nebbett, Hamilton, L. Deacon, B. Deacon, Kronfeld, W. Johnson.

Replacements: Richards, Holford, Ryder, H. Tuilagi, Ellis, Vesty, W. Skinner.

Tries: Vesty.

Cons: Stimpson.

Pens: Stimpson 3.

Sin Bin: Kronfeld (66), Hamilton (80).

Sharks: Going, Cueto, Mayor, Bond, Hanley, van Straaten, Walshe, Sheridan, Titterell, Turner, Fullarton, Schofield, A. Sanderson, Pinkerton, C. Jones.

Replacements: Cairns, Yates, Day, Davies, Lund, Hoyle, Wigglesworth.

Tries: Bond.

Cons: van Straaten.

Pens: van Straaten 5.

Sin Bin: Schofield (80).

Att: 15,007

Ref: D Pearson (RFU).