Tigers fail to Sale through

Leicester suffered a bittersweet night at Welford Road as they failed to reach the last four of the EDF Energy Cup despite a 30-20 win over Sale.

The Tigers failed to pick up a much-needed bonus point as they laboured to a victory that wasn't sealed until an injury-time try from Jordan Crane.

Last year's beaten finalists had little to cheer about at the final whistle, though, as Cardiff's win over Bath saw the Blues through to the semi-finals.

Sale were already out of the running and took the chance to rest key players, although Dwayne Peel and Jason White both started.

Moody returns

There was also a big name back in the Leicester pack, Lewis Moody making his long-awaited return from operations to both Achilles and hip.

The flanker's comeback after nine months out was a reason to be cheerful for the home fans, who saw their side take an early 6-0 lead thanks to a pair of penalties from Derick Hougaard.

The South African fly-half was also on target with a simple conversion from in front of the posts after Sale's pack gave away a penalty try at a scrum.

They had already seen prop Rob O'Donnell sent to the sin bin for collapsing under pressure and although they didn't concede again when down a man, at half time they found themselves 13-0 behind.

Despite the deficit the Sharks began the second half in roaring fashion, Chris Bell bagging the first of his brace after two Nick McLeod penalties.

With the centre's score, which saw him just have enough pace to out-run Leicester winger Tom Varndell, also being converted the away team were suddenly back on level terms.

Roaring Tigers

However, the try only resulted in the Tigers picking up the pace again, Varndell showing his attacking skills with a clever kick-and-chase that ended with replacement scrum-half Tom Youngs touching down.

Trailing again, this time down 20-13, Sale showed tremendous fighting spirit to draw level again with 12 minutes to go when Bell sprinted in from 50 metres out.

A penalty settled the home side's nerves again and they clinched the result when Crane made the most of a mix-up in the Sale three-quarters to dive under the posts with the last action of the game.

Hougaard's sixth successful kick of the evening rounded out the scoring but could do little to lift Leicester's disappoinment at failing to qualify.