Tagicakibau stars as Irish go top

SAILOSI TAGICAKIBAU claimed his sixth try in five games to send London Irish top of the Guinness Premiership via an 11-8 win over Sale Sharks at Edgeley Park last night.

But the win came at a cost for the Exiles, as wing Adam Thompstone was stretchered off with a leg injury.

To make matters worse, his replacement Peter Richards was red-carded in stoppage time after catching Sale hooker Neil Briggs in the face with a swinging arm.

Peter Hewat had got Exiles off the mark with a penalty, but Sale prop Eifion Roberts drove over the line to give his side a 5-3 lead in wet conditions.

Irish hit back in first-half stoppage time with a terrific try from a move which started just inside their own half.

Centre Elvis Seveali’i cleverly fed Tagicakibau, who burst through Mark Cueto’s despairing challenge to touch down.

Hewat’s conversion hit an upright, but he made amends by booting over a penalty from more than 40 metres.

Sale moved to within three points of Irish via a Nick Macleod penalty after the restart, but Toby Booth’s closed out victory despite being reduced to 14 men.