Sale 27-3 Leeds

Sale (27) 27
Tries: Vakacegu, Ripol, O'Donnell, Seymour Cons: Hodgson 2 Pens: Hodgson
Leeds (3) 3
Pen: Ford

Sale ran in four first-half tries to seal a comprehensive bonus-point win over struggling Leeds in the LV= Cup.

Marika Vakacegu applied a clinical finish to a sweeping move to put Sale ahead and then Oriol Ripol went over in the corner at a rain-hit Edgeley Park.

Rob O'Donnell also powered over and then David Seymour burst through to give Sale a 27-3 half-time lead.

Leeds, who rested key players, improved but neither side created any clear chances in a scoreless second half.

Sale director of rugby Kingsley Jones on Sale's trip to Headingley next weekend in the Guinness Premiership:

"Let's not get too carried away - it was a great victory at home in the rain and a good performance, but we've really got to come back into work on Monday and be focused for next weekend.

"I'm sure Leeds will go home tonight without too much distress because they will be looking to next Sunday as well.

"We will enjoy tonight, relax but I know next week we will face a much different Leeds side with probably 18 changes to their squad."

Leeds director of rugby Andy Key:

"It's been known since the start of the season that for us consolidation in the Premiership is the most important thing.

"We've given some players a rest and others game time in the cup competitions and we were chuffed tonight with the effort.

"We could have thrown in the towel at half-time but that's not the spirit of this squad."

Sale: MacLeod, Vakacegu, M. Tait, Bishop, Ripol, Hodgson, Leck; O'Donnell, Briggs, Kerr, C. Jones, Cox, Ormsby, Seymour, Koyamailbole.

Replacements: Styles for Hodgson (50), Halsall for Kerr (53), Gaskell for Ormsby (50), Fearns for Koyamailbole (50).

Not Used: M. Jones, Forster, Wigglesworth, Cohen.

Leeds: Goodridge, Burrell, Hepworth, H. Paul, Armstrong, Ford, Mathie; Denman, Warner, Bucknall, Ball, Pendlebury, Denton, Clark, Oakley.

Replacements: Wackett for Hepworth (73), Strange for Ford (74), White for Mathie (51), MacDonald for Denman (51), Moreno for Warner (73), Swainston for Bucknall (51), Beck for Ball (51), Rowan for Oakley (53).

Att: 5,536

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