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Sale Sharks 38 Leeds 29

Jenny Dixon
27/ 8/2008

MORE than three thousand people turned out to witness the Edgeley Park debuts of two of Sharks’ hottest summer signings - Mathew Tait and Dwayne Peel.

The established internationals, England’s Tait and Wales’ Peel, are bound to find themselves in the media glare over the forthcoming season, but this match was about more than two new talents, it was about forging a team of champions.

Twenty-five players took on Leeds and, with fierce competition for places in a star-studded back-line, it was apparent from the start that open attacking would be a vital component.

Two minutes into the tie new signing David Doherty demonstrated his pace along the wing, but the tryline eluded him by just inches.

Two scrums later, Peel was denied a debut try as he was held up over the line.

Despite the early evidence that the backs would be the first to breach Leeds’ defence it was experienced hooker Sebastien Bruno who put the first points on the board.

New Zealand centre Luke McAlister offloaded to release Bruno across the whitewash.

Charlie Hodgson converted to give Sharks a 7-0 lead after 13 minutes.

Eight minutes later, Leeds levelled with prop Mike MacDonald taking the plaudits after winger Tom Biggs collected a grubber kick and sent MacDonald over the line.

Hodgson kicked a penalty to put the hosts back in control and Mark Cueto looked set to score after an interception took him into Leeds’ 22. He never made it, but Tait was on hand to continue the move unimpeded for his debut try.

Hodgson converted to give Sale a 10-point lead.

Equally willing to graft for glory were the forwards, they plugged away and Chris Jones reaped the rewards just before the break with a converted try.

The 24-7 lead at the interval was reduced marginally by Jason Strange’s penalty, before 14 points were earned by the hosts without reply.

Among the raft of second-half replacements was substitute Richard Wigglesworth, who gifted McAlister a sublime ball with which he closed in on the tryline, Sharks latest recruit Andy Tuilagi finished off the move under the posts.

Another sweet manouevre saw Hodgson and Wigglesworth combine to send Jones over for his second try, under the posts.

With five tries in the bag and a 38-10 lead, Sharks allowed Leeds into the match with three tries, one by Tom Denton and two from Richard Welding, his first a length-of-the-pitch sprint after intercepting a Sharks’ pass in his own 22.

Sharks’ director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre said: "In the first half it was a very quick game, with a lot of intensity and we scored some good tries, but we gave away some easy tries to Leeds."