Ford boots Sale to opening-day win over Harlequins

Gallagher Premiership

Sale (9) 12

Pens: Ford 4

Harlequins (8) 11

Tries: Walker Pens: Halfpenny 2

Sale Sharks edged Harlequins 12-11 in an attritional contest at the Salford Community Stadium to open their Premiership campaign with a victory.

Jack Walker crossed for Quins and Leigh Halfpenny slotted a penalty on his Premiership debut, but three George Ford kicks gave Sale a slim 9-8 lead at the break.

Quins were denied a second try by the television match official (TMO), but chances remained rare with handling errors and ill-discipline costing both sides in tricky, wet conditions.

Halfpenny, playing his first-ever Premiership match, kicked Quins in front from long range, but Ford's fourth penalty with six minutes left sneaked the win.

More to follow.

Sale: Carpenter, Roebuck, Nayacalevu, R du Preez, O'Flaherty, Ford, Warr, Rodd, Cowan-Dickie, Opoku-Fordjour, van Rhyn, Andrews, T. Curry, B. Curry, JL du Preez.

Replacements: Caine, Onasanya, Harper, Beaumont, Bamber, Dugdale, Thomas, Addison.

Harlequins: Halfpenny, David, Northmore, Anyanwu, Beard, J. Evans Porter, Baxter, Walker, Lamositele, Herbst, Lewies, Kenningham, Evans, Dombrandt.

Replacements: Jibulu, Els, Kerrod, Launchbury, Lamb, Care, Smith, Cleaves.

Referee: A. Leal.