Leicester Tigers trail Sale Sharks 9-6 at half-time of tonight's opening game of the new Guinness Premiership season.

Jeremy Staunton kicked two penalties on his league debut for Tigers, who finished the half with 14 men after Louis Deacon was given a yellow card.

Fly-half Staunton’s kicks were either side of three penalties for Sale centre Lee Thomas on a wet night at Edgeley Park.

Tigers also gave a Guinness Premiership debut to Anthony Allen in the centres while fellow summer signings James Grindal and Billy Twelvetrees were named on the bench.

Sale were forced into a late change among their replacements when Rob O’Donnell dropped out with a shoulder injury to be replaced by Gavin Kerr.

Ben Cohen made his league debut on the wing for the Sharks with fellow summer arrivals Jack Forster and Sisa Koyamaibole playing at tighthead and No8 respectively.

The game marked the 10th anniversary of the home team being renamed Sale Sharks.