Sale suffer Tigers defeat

Dec 27 2009

Leicester extended their unbeaten home record to 24 matches but made desperately hard work of subduing depleted Guinness Premiership rivals Sale 32-6 at a packed Welford Road.

Sale made 11 changes to the side that started last week's Heineken Cup game against Harlequins but they made the home side graft for their victory.

Leicester did not claim the bonus point until the final play of the game when number eight Jordan Crane drove over after a succession of scrums close to Sale's line.

Sale defended tenaciously but could not convert their own attacking opportunities into a try and had to rely on two Charlie Hodgson penalties for their points.

Bath claimed their first Guinness Premiership home win since April after defeating Gloucester 24-8 in a dire west country derby at the Recreation Ground.

Fly-half Nicky Little guided them to victory, landing four penalties as Bath prospered from Gloucester's indiscipline before substitute Jack Cuthbert and wing Matt Banahan posted late tries.

Little added the conversion to Banahan's interception dash as the England international celebrated returning from suspension and signing a new Bath contract in style.

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