Leicester secure Heineken Cup place

Leicester 48 Sale 27

Leicester guaranteed their presence in next season’s Heineken Cup with the expected demolition of under-strength Sale in today’s Zurich Wildcard final at Twickenham.

The Sharks – skippered by England full-back Jason Robinson – had been robbed of half their first-choice line-up through injury and international commitments and were no match for the Tigers.

Even without inspirational fly-half Jaco van der Westhuyzen, who was training with the Springboks, Leicester proved far too strong for their outgunned Mancunian opponents who must settle for Parker Pen Challenge Cup rugby next season.

The Tigers began the day as one of the Zurich Premiership’s form teams after going unbeaten in the league since January 3 and they wasted little time in making their superiority tell as fly-half Andy Goode slotted two penalties.

Sale hit back against the run of play with a well-worked try from Jason Robinson but after that it was all one-way traffic as Austin Healey, Daryl Gibson, Leon Lloyd (2) and Neil Back (2) touched down.

Tries from Steve Hanley and Scott Benton showed there was still fight in the Sharks during the second half but a Leicester victory had never looked in doubt from the moment Lloyd crossed a minute after the interval.

Goode, who turned out for Saracens against the Tigers in last season’s Wildcard final, filled the boots of van der Westhuyzen and did an admirable job, slotting 18 points in an assured display which helped secure the Tigers’ sixth successive Heineken Cup campaign.