Sanderson savours Sale's home comforts as Tigers falter

In the opening stages of this year's Premiership it has not exactly been the vintage Sale Sharks we have grown accustomed to seeing in recent seasons.

- Aaron Bower

However, one thing that has been a hallmark of Alex Sanderson's tenure remains the same as we approach the halfway point in the campaign: if they are to make the playoffs, it will be their home form that is likely decisive.

The Sharks have lost just five Premiership games on home soil since Sanderson was appointed in January 2021. It is a remarkable record, and one which could be more important than ever this season given their polarising form on their travels. Eight games in, Sale have lost all four of their away matches - two of them bruising, heavy losses against Northampton and Bath before the international break.

But their home form is once again magnificent, with this hard-earned victory against Leicester not only reducing the gap to the top four to just five points, but making it four wins from four at the Salford Community Stadium. The Sharks are a different breed at home and here, a magnificent second-half display laid the platform to hand the Tigers their first away defeat of the season.

Leading by just a point at halftime, 17 points inside the first 10 minutes after the restart proved to be decisive for Sale. They head into the Champions Cup in buoyant mood with a display that was much more like the Sharks we are used to seeing. "It's really rewarding to see the fruits of our labour come to fruition today when we needed it," Sanderson said.