Hodgson sticks boot into Leeds

Charlie Hodgson kicked Sale to a priceless 15-12 victory as an agonising loss sent bottom side Leeds ever closer to relegation from the Aviva Premiership.

Fly-half Hodgson, 30, landed five penalties from as many attempts to settle a fraught encounter in which Neil Back's side fully played their part.

Leeds, who have spent the season rooted to the foot of the table, claimed well-worked tries from Henry Fa'afili and Michael Stephenson and were largely dominant up front in the opening half.

However, Hodgson, who has dug Sale out of so many holes in his 11 years at Edgeley Park, converted three penalties before the break and another two after the restart to ease his side's own relegation fears.

Sale will sorely miss Hodgson when he joins Saracens at the end of the season and how Leeds must wish they had a player with such unerring accuracy in their boots.

Hodgson's opposite number Adrian Jarvis missed three penalties in the opening 40 minutes - two of which cruelly rebounded off a post - and then failed to convert Stephenson's late try.

A 15th defeat from 17 matches means another great escape is surely beyond Back's men, although a losing bonus point at least offers a glimmer of hope.