Leicester Tigers reached the Premiership final for the second time in four seasons as they edged Sale Sharks 21-16 in a pulsating play-off semi-final.
Handre Pollard and George Ford traded penalties before Adam Radwan’s double – including a sensational diving finish – put the dominant hosts 13-3 up at the break.
Pollard quickly matched Ford’s second penalty, but a Rob du Preez score from a slick move and another three points from Ford brought the Sharks level to tee up a grand finale.
Izaia Perese’s scorching run to the line with his first touch restored the Tigers’ lead with 13 minutes remaining and Michael Cheika’s men survived intense late pressure to preserve their unbeaten home play-off record.
Leicester will now chase a record-extending 12th league title at Twickenham next Saturday when they take on six-time champions Bath in the final.
More to follow.
Leicester: Steward, Radwan, Kata, Woodward, Hassell-Collins, Pollard, Van Poortvliet; Smith, Montoya, Hayes, Henderson, Chessum, Liebenberg, Reffell, Cracknell.
Replacements: Clare, Cronin, Cole, Rogerson, Ilione, Youngs, Volavola, Perese.
Sale: Carpenter, Roebuck, Robert du Preez, Ma’asi-White, Reed, Ford, Quirke; Rodd, Cowan-Dickie, Opoku-Fordjour, Van Rhyn, Hill, Tom Curry, Ben Curry, Jean-Luc du Preez.
Replacements: McElroy, McIntyre, John, Bamber, Dan du Preez, Warr, James, O’Flaherty.
