Leicester Tigers overcame a tough Sale Sharks side to win 16-6 and continue their unbeaten start to the Under-18 Academy League.

The first half was a low-scoring affair as both sides fought for territory with Tigers fly-half Sam Costelow supplying two penalties for a 6-3 advantage after the first 40 minutes.

In the second half, Tigers upped their game and with 55 minutes on the clock grabbed the only try of the match thanks to replacement Finlay Gibson. Costelow kicked the points to extend Tigers’ lead to 13-6.

As Sale tried to get back into the game, Tigers defended well with the forwards dominating at the breakdown and Costelow was able to wrap up the match with his third successful penalty to secure the four points.

The win moves Tigers to second in the table after the first two rounds with a home fixture against Worcester Warriors on Saturday, January 20 next up.

Leicester Tigers Academy

15 Freddie Steward (Norwich School)

14 Zack Godfrey (Stamford School)

13 Will Poland (Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School)

12 Ronnie Du Randt (Denstone College)

11 Luke Phoenix (Langley School)

10 Sam Costelow (Oakham School)

9 Will Yarnell (Loughborough Grammar School)

1 Keston Lines (Wyggeston & QE College)

2 Jamie Harding (Denstone College)

3 James Whitcombe (Woodhouse Grove School)

4 George Martin (Brooksby Melton College)

5 Cameron Jordan (Oakham School)

6 Xander Purcell (Wyggeston & QE College)

7 Taylor Gough (Wyggeston & QE College)

8 Henri Lavin (Wyggeston & QE College)(c)

Replacements

16 Finlay Gibson (Brooksby Melton College)

17 Alex Maxwell (Brooksby Melton College)

18 Joe Latham (Wyggeston & QE College)

19 Ollie Ashworth (Langley School)

20 Sam Eveleigh (Leicester Grammar School)

21 Jack Van Poortvliet (Oakham School)

22 Jonny Law (Rugby School)

23 Andre Dunn (Langley School)

23 Luke Phoenix (Langley School)

Sale Sharks: Tom Curtis (James Rooney 57); Tom Roebuck (Evan Powell 61), Connor Doherty, Cameron Redpath, Raffi Quirke; Kieran Wilkinson, Tom Walsh (Gus Warr H/T); Bevan Rodd (Alex Brooks 38), Ewan Ashman ( Liam Davies 52), Cal Ford (James Harper 40), Rouban Birch, Jack Hill (Connor James 63), Ciaran Booth, Charlie Papworth (Sam Higginson 66), Sam Dugdale (c).