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 successful an attritional title astatine nan Salford Community Stadium to unfastened their Premiership run pinch a victory.

Jack Walker crossed for Quins and Leigh Halfpenny slotted a punishment connected his Premiership debut, but 3 George Ford kicks gave Sale a slim 9-8 lead astatine nan break.

Quins were denied a 2nd effort by nan tv lucifer charismatic (TMO), but chances remained uncommon pinch handling errors and ill-discipline costing some sides successful tricky, bedewed conditions.

Halfpenny, playing his first-ever Premiership match, kicked Quins successful beforehand from agelong range, but Ford's 4th punishment pinch six minutes near sneaked nan 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.