Fulham to announce new boss

Mark Hughes looks set for a return to the Barclays Premier League after Fulham confirmed they are on the brink of appointing their new manager.

Read Full Story

Have Your Shout

Murray looking to future

Andy Murray is hoping the appointment of a new coach can help him make a major breakthrough after revealing a difference of opinion was behind this week's split with Miles Maclagan.

Read Full Story

Have Your Shout

Hodgson: No pressure on kids

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has urged his young players to grasp their chance to impress tonight.

Read Full Story

Have Your Shout

Get posting in the Star Forums!

You can join the debate and post your own views in the lively Daily Star Forums!

TIGERS OUT DESPITE WIN

ABOVE: Jordan Crane

31st October 2008

Leicester Tigers edged to a 30-20 victory over Sale Sharks but their hopes of winning Group B in the EDF Energy Cup bit the dust in the process.

An injury-time try from substitute Jordan Crane put a gloss on an unconvincing Tigers performance and Cardiff's win over Bath meant Leicester failed to get out of the group stages for the first time in three years.

A scratch Sale side came away from the game with a lot of credit and Chris Bell's brace of tries kept them in the game right up to the closing seconds.

Leicester's South African fly-half Derick Hougaard - making his first appearance in front of the Welford Road crowd - opened the scoring with a 40-metre penalty on 10 minutes and added to it three minutes later to put his side 6-0 up.

Tigers marched down field from the resulting kick-off and, when Sale's scrum disintegrated for a third time near their own line, prop Rob O'Donnell was shown a yellow card. Flanker Michael Hills made way for substitute prop Ross Davies but it did his pack little good as they popped up from the set piece once more and referee James Jones awarded a penalty try which Hougaard converted.

Sale began the second half full of confidence and Nick McLeod got the scoreboard ticking over with penalties on 44 and 46 minutes to pull it back to 13-6.

Four minutes later, it was very much game on when Bell hacked forward a Tigers knock-on in midfield and had just enough gas to outrun Tom Varndell and win the dive for the touchdown. McLeod levelled the scores by converting the extras.

The score stung Tigers into action and they regained their lead on 56 minutes. Moody fed Varndell who kicked forward, gathered and passed to Youngs who powered over from five metres out. Hougaard's kick made it 20-13.

But Sale refused to lay down and they levelled again with 12 minutes to go. Another mistake in midfield allowed Bell to gather a high ball and sprint in from 50 metres out. McLeod kicked the conversion to make it 20-20.

A Hougaard penalty settled the home side's nerves and 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 finished the scoring.