Guinness Prem - Tigers maul Sharks for top spot

Eurosport - Sun, 05 Apr 10:56:00 2009

Leicester moved to the top of the Guinness Premiership after beating Sale 37-31 at Welford Road, despite having prop Julian White sent off midward through the first half.

Alessana Tuilagi - Leicester - 0

White was dismissed by referee Wayne Barnes in the 23rd minute for a punch on opposite number and fellow England prop Andrew Sheridan.

The Tigers were leading 17-10 at the time and despite being reduced to 14 men produced some superb attacking rugby to secure a bonus point and move one point clear of Harlequins at the top of the table.

In what was a thrilling and sometimes brutal encounter, the Tigers were worth their victory and although Sale grabbed a bonus point late in the game, they failed to take advantage of their extra man and let slip a chance of moving back into contention for a play-off place.

The result leaves the Sharks in sixth place, five points off the top four with only two games of the league season remaining.

In-form Leicester scored five tries at a packed Welford Road, two before the interval through Alessana Tuilagi (pictured) and Scott Hamilton for a 17-10 half-time lead.

A first-half brace from Sale's England wing Mark Cueto kept the visitors very much in the game and with the extra man they will have felt confident of their chances after the break.

White's sending off came after a scrum broke up and while Sheridan appeared to throw the first punch, the Leicester prop landed his to floor the Sale mountain and leave Barnes with little option but to issue a red card.

Charlie Hodgson and Toby Flood exchanged penalties early in the second half and when hooker Neil Briggs went over for Sale's third try in the 49th minute it looked like their numerical advantage might tell.

But the Tigers bounced back four minutes later with a superb touch down from Dan Hipkiss and extended their lead on the hour with Hamilton's second try.

Hodgson kept Sale in touch with his third penalty soon after but when the outstanding Sam Vesty crossed for their fifth try 10 minutes before the end victory looked assured for the Tigers.

A late penalty from Hodgson secured the Sharks a losing bonus point but they will have to win their two remaining fixtures and hope other results go their way if they are to make the play-offs.

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 9 of 9

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  1. To my mind there should be 2 referees on the pitch as­ touch judges do not appear to keep with the ongoing­ game. Nevertheless Tigers played with goosto and must­ be lauded under the circumstances! By the way ,where­ does the video refery hide? Is he able to follow such a­ fast match. Cheers Tigers ! More of the same next week.

    From CARLA, on Mon 6 Apr 7:42PM

  2. To my mind there should be 2 referees on the pitch as­ touch judges do not appear to keep with the ongoing­ game. Nevertheless Tigers played with goosto and must­ be lauded under the circumstances! By the way ,where­ does the video refery hide? Is he able to follow such a­ fast match. Cheers Tigers ! More of the same next week.

    From CARLA, on Mon 6 Apr 7:42PM

  3. What a fantastic match and all the emphasis should be­ on the brilliant game and not the minor punch up,­ Tigers played with commitment and passion which Sale­ attempted to match, hubby is not a Tiger fan but he­ felt it was one of the best games of rugby he has­ watched and believe me he has played in and watched­ many. A credit to the spirit of the Tiger team, well­ done boys .

    From England fan living in wales, on Sun 5 Apr 9:33PM

  4. Ok The ref had no choice in sending of julian white but­ when he threw the second punch in his defence ,his­ sparing partner should also recieve the same punishment­ .on any sending off decisions the video ref should­ always be consulted .Why are the RFU not enforcing this­ ?

    From Mark, on Sun 5 Apr 2:45PM

  5. thats the first time julian white has been sent off ya­ know. yeah he's firey but what prop, or any forward­ for that matter, isnt? sheridan wants punishing too for­ intent, but white connected so he'll have to accept­ his ban.

    From tommy, on Sun 5 Apr 10:23AM

  6. Postings 1,2 and 3 , they are not touch judges but­ assistant referees . And as such can direct the referee­ to send off an offending player .
    Off the point ,­ assistant referees usually watch the same action as the­ referee and miss off the ball action , they are there­ to assist not watch what the referee is watching .

    From kj35tfe, on Sun 5 Apr 10:06AM

  7. I agree with the above there should be more involvement­ of the touch judge and video ref on sendings off so­ that it is fair on all parties involved.
    But as a long­ time Leicester Tigers fan Julian White is very much a­ firecracker and alot of the time will be the one­ throwing the first punch....... Perhaps its time his­ club dealt with his lack of self control, it must be­ difficult in the heat of it all, but he gets paid to be­ professional .

    From DarrenC, on Sun 5 Apr 8:28AM

  8. change the rules so that in future
    they can go to­ the video ref ,

    From Dennis, on Sat 4 Apr 10:44PM

  9. The referee had no option but to send off White.

    But­ had the touchjudge, who was only feet away, had the­ integrity to tell the referee that Sheridan had also­ thrown a punch, the referee would have had no option­ but to send off Sheridan, too.

    Probably Sheridan will­ be cited.

    But there is a very serious problem in­ Rugby, if touchjudges are not prepared to point out­ what they must have seen.

    Or perhaps he was just­ looking the other way.

    From flick99.west, on Sat 4 Apr 9:58PM
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