Sharp start for Sharks

Lee Thomas kicked all Sale's points as the Sharks kicked-off the Guinness Premiership season with a tight 15-12 victory against Leicester Tigers at Edgeley Park.

No tries were scored on the night as Sale pulled off a battling victory thanks to some defiant defending, along with the marksmanship of Thomas.

Champions Leicester are expected to put up a huge showing to try and defend their title this year, but they could not find a way through with Jeremy Staunton's boot providing them with all 12 points.

Their early swagger hinted at their pedigree as champions yet Sale's pack, including 6ft 7in, 19-year-old James Gaskell, were far from overawed and their hunger was obvious from the first whistle.

And with Charlie Hodgson typically emerging as a key figure at fly-half, and Ben Cohen on one wing and Mark Cueto on the other, Sale looked to have the ammunition to penetrate the Tigers.

Missed kick

Hodgson missed a ninth-minute penalty from 40 metres and Staunton responded by nailing his kick to put Leicester ahead soon after.

Welsh centre Thomas took up the kicking duties from Hodgson and was two-for-two early on, with his second penalty coming as Leicester's Louis Deacon was sin-binned for persistent infringement.

Hodgson was still influential with ball in hand, but despite Sale threatening to make the breakthrough Leicester full-back Geordan Murphy led a sweeping move from insde his own half, which ultimately resulted in a penalty to make the score 9-6 at the half.

The Sharks' three-point lead disappeared two minutes after the interval as Staunton's third penalty drew Leicester level, but two more penalties from Thomas edged Sale 15-9 ahead by the 53rd minute.

Sale introduced Mathew Tait, another player aiming to impress the watching Martin Johnson, shortly before the hour mark, and moments later Thomas spurned an opportunity to stretch his side's lead when he kicked a penalty wide.

Staunton's fourth penalty cut the gap to three points with 10 minutes remaining and a spell of late Leicester pressure saw Staunton have the chance to level, but he sent his penalty wide from near to the touchline.

That ensured Leicester began their campaign in defeat and with only the consolation of a losing bonus point to show for their efforts.