James at his best as Sale keep in the race

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER

Sale ……………………………….31pts

Tries: Warr 8, Taylor 13, James 34, O’Flaherty 43

Conversions: Ford 9, 14, 35, 44

Penalties: Ford 57

Leicester …………………….. 22pts

Tries: Cole 4, Scott 17, Martin 74

Conversions: Pollard 18, Shillcock 75

Penalties: Shillcock 39

SAM James might be departing for pastures new but Sale’s Mr Dependable produced a nigh on immaculate performance at full-back as they continue to battle for a play-off place.

On his last home appearance James, the man-of-the-match by a distance, played the last minute with tears cascading down his cheeks but for the previous 79 minutes he was a cold eyed killer as Sale went in search of the bonus point win they needed to stay in contention.

Save for one dropped high ball it’s difficult to recall a false move or mistake from the versatile James who went through his full repertoire of clever kicks, passes and offloads.

There was also a rapturously received first-half try and a sumptuous second-half nudge through which gifted a try for wing Tom O’Flaherty.

James has played most of his career at Sale at centre but has regularly deputised at 10 and 15 and, given his skillset and given England‘s perennial selectorial issues in the midfield, it seems inconceivable that he didn’t warrant an extended run at some stage.

It was a night of farewells, to the home crowd at least, for other Sale favourites with Manu Tuilagi – looking as sharp and hungry as he has for a few years – causing mayhem in midfield and second row Kobus Wiese putting in his usual solid shift up front.

Tuilagi is joining Bayonne while Wiese is returning to South Africa where he has signed for the Blue Bulls. All three departees could finish on a big high in the play-offs but to achieve that Sale will have to claim a first ever Premiership win at Saracens on Saturday.

Sale, who have built a good head of steam with four consecutive bonus point wins, are well capable of such a big result if they can produce an 80-minute performance and be just a little more precise in the red zone – a couple of gilt-edged try scoring chances went begging in the second half here which they can’t afford to cough up against Saracens.

It was actually Leicester who were first out of the blocks with prop Dan Cole blasting his way over before Sale replied with a brace of tries, a well taken effort from scrum-half Gus Warr and a nicely worked score for hooker Tommy Taylor.

The latter came from a lineout when Leicester – a man down with Ollie Hassell-Collins in the sin-bin for a high tackle – reasonably expecting a tail of the lineout throw and a big bust from Tuilagi, were caught napping at the front where skipper Ben Curry looped round and fed Taylor for the score. On another night Curry’s pass might have been deemed forward but Mr Ridley was in a benevolent mood.

Star man: Sam James scores for Sale

PICTURES: Getty Images

Tigers hit back with an interception try from centre Matt Scott but Sale took a grip in the 35th minute with the try of the night from James which owed much to excellent work from the mobile Bevan Rodd, Taylor, Tuilagi and Curry. George Ford, as he had done with the first two tries, converted superbly.

Wing Jamie Shillcock, excellent in adversity for Tigers, kicked a long range penalty just before the break but Sale forged on after half-time with O’Flaherty’s try and extended their lead further with a penalty from flyhalf Ford.

A big score seemed likely but Leicester suddenly found more fluency and despite having hooker Charlie Clare in the bin, rallied to score a well-deserved try from England lock George Martin.

It’s been a patchy season for Tigers but they will be anxious to sign off with a win over Exeter on Saturday.

Charge: Leicester No.8 Jasper Wiese