Sale grind it out

Leeds are still without an Aviva Premiership win this season after losing 6-3 to Sale in a tense if unspectacular clash at Headingley.

Nick Macleod kicked two second-half penalties as the Sharks came from behind to claim the four points, after Macleod's Welsh compatriot Ceiron Thomas kicked Leeds into a lead early in the second half.

But the Leeds man missed two further penalties, notably from just inside the Sale half eight minutes from the end, to leave Leeds at the foot of the table without a win from their first six games.

There was further worry for Leeds head coach Neil Back and England manager Martin Johnson, as Leeds flanker Hendre Fourie failed to return for the second half after suffering a rib injury.

There was better news for Johnson as Mark Cueto and Andrew Sheridan for Sale and Steve Thompson of Leeds emerged relatively unscathed ahead of the England squad meet-up on Monday for the build-up to the autumn internationals.

Fierce

The first half was fiercely-contested, if uninspiring for the spectators. Thomas missed a 16th-minute penalty on his return from bench duty during the European break, and on the three occasions Leeds forced their way into the opposition 22 they turned over possession, with first Fourie and then centre James Tinknell the guilty parties.

The teams headed into the dressing-rooms with the game still scoreless, and Leeds were about to rue their failure to take advantage of their first-half dominance.

Despite Fourie's absence at the start of the second half, Leeds finally got the scoreboard in motion three minutes in through a Thomas penalty.

Macleod levelled matters on 50 minutes after Charlie Hodgson had struck a post with a drop-goal attempt, when French referee Jerome Garces had allowed advantage.

Desperate

Macleod then booted Sale ahead on 58 minutes and would have extended that lead had a 60-metre penalty shortly afterwards not hit the upright.

From closer in Thomas pushed a kick wide on 72 minutes, after which the hosts began to get desperate as they tried to force the issue.

Leeds were too often guilty of poor and rushed passing as Sale's try-line was never threatened in earnest in the closing stages.