Leicester Tigers reached the Premiership last for the second time in 4 seasons as they edged Sale Sharks 21-16 in a pulsating play-off semi-final.
Handre Pollard and George Ford traded penalties earlier than Adam Radwan’s double – together with a sensational diving end – put the dominant hosts 13-3 up on the break.
Pollard shortly matched Ford’s second penalty, however a Rob du Preez rating from a slick transfer and one other three factors from Ford introduced the Sharks stage to tee up a grand finale.
Izaia Perese’s scorching run to the road along with his first contact restored the Tigers’ lead with 13 minutes remaining and Michael Cheika’s males survived intense late strain to protect their unbeaten house play-off document.
Leicester will now chase a record-extending twelfth league title at Twickenham subsequent Saturday after they tackle six-time champions Bathtub within the last.
Extra to comply with.
Leicester: Steward, Radwan, Kata, Woodward, Hassell-Collins, Pollard, Van Poortvliet; Smith, Montoya, Hayes, Henderson, Chessum, Liebenberg, Reffell, Cracknell.
Replacements: Clare, Cronin, Cole, Rogerson, Ilione, Youngs, Volavola, Perese.
Sale: Carpenter, Roebuck, Robert du Preez, Ma’asi-White, Reed, Ford, Quirke; Rodd, Cowan-Dickie, Opoku-Fordjour, Van Rhyn, Hill, Tom Curry, Ben Curry, Jean-Luc du Preez.
Replacements: McElroy, McIntyre, John, Bamber, Dan du Preez, Warr, James, O’Flaherty.
