Sale Sharks 30 Leicester Tigers 32

Will Addsion at speed
By Whaley Shark
December 28 2014

Gutted! That’s still how I feel, and I can’t imagine how the players must feel today. They played themselves to a standstill yesterday, only to see Tigers nick a win at the death. Two bonus points probably doesn’t feel like much reward.

However, there were many really good things in our performance, from the aggressive start which gave us a turnover and a good attacking position almost from the kick off, and led to a Chris Cusiter try after just five minutes, nipping round the blind side of a ruck to score in the corner. Tigers weren’t putting up with that sort of behaviour, though, and quickly marched downfield to set up camp in our 22. After a couple of bites at the cherry, Tigers crossed to tie the scores 5-all.

Our next foray into Tigers’ territory yielded a penalty, and we started to see some strong, elusive running from both Will Addison and Mike Haley. However, Tigers nicked a loose ball and, in our eagerness to recover possession, we started to concede penalties which took them into our 22 and then gave them a lineout just ten metres out, from which ex-Shark Matthew Tait crossed. Just as we were starting to rock, Jonny Leota made a half break on the Leicester ten metre line and fed Will Addison, who dummied and danced his way through the defence for a fine try and a 15-12 lead.

Tigers levelled the scores a couple of minutes later with another penalty but we responded with a another fine handling move which saw Magnus Lund over, but the try was disallowed. A penalty allowed Tigers to push us back downfield but we nicked a Tigers lineout and a Leicester infringement gave Danny the chance to put us back in the lead. The last score of the half came as the clock ran down, with Will Addison slicing through the Tigers’ defensive line and some desperate defence both giving us a penalty which we put in the corner and seeing the Tigers’ 6, Gibson, taking a ten minute rest. One of our trademark rolling mauls and some strong forward play led to a Nathan Hines try, to send us in 25-15 ahead.

Leicester’s half time team talk seemed to have had no effect early in the second half, as a defensive lapse from a quickly taken lineout gave Sam Tuitupou the bonus point try and a 30-15 cushion. However, Tigers started to ring the changes, starting with a whole new front row, and the efforts of the first hour maybe started to show in our play. As the hour came, we were unable to break free from prolonged Tigers pressure and they knew they had us on the rack, as they put successive penalties into the corner. Eventually, we cracked and Miles Benjamin crossed in the left corner. With the conversion, and still over 20 minutes to go, our cushion was looking much, much less comfortable.

However, we almost made it, keeping Tigers out for the next 15 minutes and, indeed, Chris Cusiter very nearly pinched another try. But, as the clock ran down, we infringed, giving Tigers a straightforward penalty and putting them in sight of an unlikely win. And that set the scene for the inevitable. Tigers, going for it, hammered at our rapidly tiring defence and Will Addison was shown a yellow card. A succession of penalties to the corner gave them prolonged pressure and, sure enough, with a minute to go, Julian Salvi was driven over under the posts and Owen Williams made no mistake with the extra points.

As I said at the start, that was a really tough defeat to take. Yes, it was good to have pushed Tigers so hard, but to lose like that was hard to swallow. However, it’s gone, and we have to look ahead to Wasps and Saints. Thanks to all the lads for a wonderful effort, and sorry you didn’t get the win. Hey ho……