Ford puts the boot in

PREMIERSHIP REPORT: George Ford proved the difference as the England international kicked Leicester Tigers to a narrow victory over Sale Sharks at Welford Road.

The flyhalf booted 14 points for the hosts to add to Kyle Eastmond’s first-half try on his return to the Leicester starting line-up as they prevailed 19-15 against the league’s bottom side.

But it was a case of what might have been for the visitors, who took an early lead through Marland Yarde’s try, with Will Cliff failing with all three of his attempts at goal.

Rob Webber and Curtis Langdon finished off driving mauls for Sharks after the break, but Ford’s accuracy from the key proved key as he kept Leicester’s noses in front.

Eastmond, who came off the bench to play a part in Tigers’ second-half fightback in their defeat to Worcester, returned to the starting XV in the absence of Manu Tuilagi.

Adam Thompstone also replaced Jonah Holmes, who dropped to the Leicester bench, while Ben White was handed his first Premiership start of the season.

Sale welcomed back Rohan Janse van Rensburg to their squad for the first time since January after ankle surgery, while Webber and Josh Strauss started at hooker and No.8, respectively.

That brings a conclusion to an intriguing Round 5 of #GallagherPrem action 👀

Best result of the weekend? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/f1ifP21IIF

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— Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) September 30, 2018

But the visitors were forced into a last-minute change before kick-off as AJ MacGinty was replaced by Sam James at flyhalf, with Luke James replacing his brother at No.13.

And it was not long before the replacement No.10 was in the thick of the action.

His kick downfield was gathered by Denny Solomona, before the ball was recycled out wide to send Yarde over with just five minutes gone, with Will Cliff hitting the upright with the conversion.

But it was not long before Tigers hit back. The hosts had to be patient, moving the ball from side to side inside the Sale 22, before Gareth Owen found a gap in the defence.

The outside centre had Eastmond for company and offloaded to his midfield partner to get Leicester on the scoreboard, with Ford’s conversion edging the hosts in front.

Ford extended Leicester’s lead with a penalty on 24 minutes after Sale were penalised for not rolling away, before Jonny May had a try disallowed on the half-hour mark.

The England wing raced in unopposed from 50 metres, but the officials judged Ford’s pass to him had gone forward, although the fly-half was able to add three more points before the break.

It remained just as tight after the restart, with little to choose between the two sides, before Sale pushed their way over for their second try, which was awarded to Webber.

Another unsuccessful conversion from Cliff ensured Leicester remained three points to the good and it was not long before Ford extended the lead back to six points going into the final ten minutes.

Ford was on target again with five minutes to go, forcing Sale to find two scores for victory – one which came in the final minute as Langdon barrelled over the line.

But it was too little, too late for the visitors, whose only consolation was a losing bonus point, which means they remain bottom of the league with just one win from five games.

The scorers:

For Leicester Tigers:
Try: Eastmond
Con: Ford
Pens: Ford 4

For Sale Sharks:
Tries: Yarde, Webber, Langdon

Teams:

Leicester Tigers: 15 Jordan Olowofela, 14 Adam Thompstone, 13 Gareth Owen, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11 Jonny May, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben White, 8 Sione Kalamafoni, 7 Guy Thompson, 6 David Denton, 5 Graham Kitchener, 4 Mike Williams, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Tom Youngs, 1 Greg Bateman.
Replacements: 16 Ross McMillan, 17 David Feao, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Harry Wells, 20 Valentino Mapapalangi, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Tom Hardwick, 23 Jonah Holmes.

Sale Sharks: 15 Byron McGuigan, 14 Denny Solomona, 13 Luke James, 12 Mark Jennings, 11 Marland Yarde, 10 Sam James, 9 Will Cliff, 8 Josh Strauss, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Jono Ross (captain), 5 Andrei Ostrikov, 4 Bryn Evans, 3 WillGriff John, 2 Rob Webber, 1 Ross Harrison.
Replacements: 16 Curtis Langdon, 17 Alexandru Tarus, 18 Joe Jones, 19 James Phillips, 20 Josh Beaumont, 21 Ben Curry, 22 Gus Warr, 23 Rohan Janse van Rensburg.

Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
Assistant referees: Adam Leal, Paul Dix
TMO: Stuart Terheege

Source: @premrugby

This is how the #GallagherPrem is shaping up after five rounds of drama 🔥

Any surprises? pic.twitter.com/FXrw0uph4e

— Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) September 30, 2018