LEICESTER 31 SALE 40

Manu Tuilagi made a try-scoring return to Welford Road as Sale Sharks strengthened their Gallagher Premiership play-off push by beating Leicester 40-31.

The England centre-left Leicester in July after rejecting a 25% pay cut, and he bit the Tigers with a first-half touchdown to help Sale reclaim second place behind runaway league leaders Exeter.

The Tuilagi try highlighted a dominant first 50 minutes by Sale, with fly-half AJ Macginty and captain Jono Ross also claiming touchdowns, while Macginty kicked three conversions and a penalty and Faf De Klerk dropped a goal.

Tuilagi was replaced midway through the second period just after a De Klerk penalty and, despite Leicester having their moments – Hanro Liebenberg, Jake Kerr and Freddie Steward scored tries and George Ford kicked 16 points – they were ultimately eclipsed.

Sale wing Denny Solomona claimed a bonus-point try 17 minutes from time, with Macginty’s conversion giving him a 19-point haul as the Sharks prevailed.

The only downbeat note on a dominant afternoon for Sale was their England flanker Tom Curry going off on the stroke of half-time and not returning after failing a head injury assessment.

Apart from a blistering start that produced an early try for Joe Marchant, Quins were totally outgunned by play-off-chasing Bath who had galloped out of sight two minutes into the second half.

Further tries from Martin Landajo and James Lang were no match for the Bath onslaught. It was Mcconnochie who delivered that killer blow as one of two tries seized with a clinical touch. Adding to the wing’s try-scoring efficiency was a masterful kicking display by Rhys Priestland, who finished the bonus-point triumph with an individual 21-point haul.

Tries from Elliott Stooke