Leicester Tigers reached the premiership final for the second time in four seasons, while they got Sale Sharks 21-16 in a pulsating play-off semifinal.
Handre Pollard and George Ford exchanged penalties before Adam Radwan’s double – including a sensational diving finish – place the dominant hosts at 13-3 in the break.
Pollard quickly matched Ford’s second penalty, but a score of Rob Du fills from a plain play and three points from Ford brought the shark level to mark a large final.
Izaia Perese’s scorching, with his first touch, restored the tigers with the remaining 13 minutes, and Michael Cheika’s men survived the intense late pressure to preserve their unbeaten play-off.
Leicester will now pursue a 12th Record League title in Twickenham next Saturday, when they will face six times champions in the final.
More below.
Leicester: Steward, Radwan, Kata, Woodward, Hassell-Collins, Pollard, Van Poortvliet; Smith, Montoya, Hayes, Henderson, Chessum, Liebenberg, Reffell, Cracknell.
Substitutions: Clare, Chromon, Cole, Rogeson, Ione, Youngs, Price, Perese.
Offer: Carpenter, Robert, Robert Duberz, Mah’s Duck, May, Reed, Ford, Ford, Quirke; RDS, Wind-Dickie, Opoku-Fordjour, Rheyn van, Hill, Tom Curry, Queen, Deputy, Black Deputy.
Substitutions: McELROY, McIntyre, John, Bamber, Dan du Complete, Warr, James, O’Flaherty.
