Sale 45 Leicester 20: Hodgson at the heart of Sale's day of dreams

Stand-off gives wins his private battle to give table-toppers title they worked so hard for

Jason Robinson lifts the trophy after Sale's win in the Premiership Grand Final

Not quite move over Manchester United, but this was a hugely significant victory for Sale in the north-west of England. They had waited a long time for such a moment, 145 years to be precise, and it arrived in such a torrent the suspicion was that Noah was a Mancunian. It was Sod's Law that the nine-month wait to crown the champions of the Guinness Premiership should coincide with a downpour but Sale were in their element.

They didn't just beat Leicester in the final, they lapped them. They took England's greatest prize by two goals, two tries, six penalties and a drop goal to two goals and two penalties and it was suitable confirmation of their superiority. Sale, the oldest club in the premiership (established 1861), yesterday won their first serious silverware but it won't be their last.

The cream of Cheshire rose to the top and that was when the Premiership started last September. They stayed there for the duration but precedent in the short history of the play-off element to the season's climax had always led to an anti-climax for the team who had set sail early. In the last three years the leaders of the league at the conclusion of the regular season were undone, by Wasps, in the final. Sale broke the mould, and how.

They were so clearly superior in every department, every phase that they left the club that used to set the benchmark in England in a state of disarray. Let's begin at half-back, where Charlie Hodgson and Richard Wigglesworth ran Andy Goode and Harry Ellis off Twickenham. Hodgson, who is not going to Australia with England, was in the sort of form here he showed here against South Africa a couple of years ago, when he ran the show and racked up the points.

Yesterday he missed a few kicks but otherwise, on a surface made treacherous by heavy rain, he was footsure and confident and, by the way, scored 23 points. Goode, who is going on tour with England, was not in the same league, but then he has seldom been behind a Tigers pack that looked so subdued. When Hodgson is in such a mood most stand-offs in the Premiership can look inferior but what was more surprising is that Wigglesworth, an understudy at Sale, also outplayed Ellis to the extent that the England scrum-half was replaced early in the second half.

This, though, was only the half of it. Led by Sébastien Chabal - sharks would think twice about tackling this man if they saw him basking in the Med - the Sale pack set about the Tigers with a vengeance and there was very little response. Leicester have won nothing for four years and they have taken some big hits, not least in the final here last season, when they finished top of the league and were hammered by Wasps. They are suffering again, big time.

Despite the conditions, or maybe because of them, the game got off to an extraordinary start. Sale were as high as a kite within minutes, Hodgson kicking a penalty after two minutes followed by the outside bet of the season: three tries in the next 14 minutes, all passed by the film censor. The first fall guy was Geordan Murphy, who failed to handle a cross kick from Hodgson, flapping at it with his left hand as he went up for the ball, Mark Cueto breathing down his neck. The rebound struck Cueto on the leg and as the ball bounced towards the Leicester line there was nothing between the England wing and a try. Cueto had no doubts but many others did until the video official Geoff Warren ruled that if any offence had been committed it had not been by Cueto.

A couple of minutes later Hodgson, who missed the conversion, had a clearance kick charged down by Shane Jennings and from the rebound Ollie Smith hacked infield, which turned out to be the perfect option. Lewis Moody was there and he had the momentum to slide beneath Jason Robinson and over the line. Mr Warren the hawkeye ruled it was a good try. He was in action again in the 16th minute when Wigglesworth broke, chipped ahead, Goode fumbled and Magnus Lund pounced for the try, slithering over with Moody in his pocket. "Try!" said Warren and thus far he was playing a blinder.

Hodgson added a penalty, failed with another and was there a significant little swing when Goode was on target to make it 16-10? On the stroke of half-time Hodgson delivered the most emphatic response, one that was so smart and decisive it required no outside adjudication.

With a bit of space to the right, he feigned to drop for goal and accelerated outside, where he sent the Spaniard Oriol Ripol, who had switched wings, clear on the overlap.

Cue dancing, if not in Barcelona, then maybe in Stockport. Hodgson added the points and it gave Sale a 23-10 lead at half-time by which time the No 10 was already on cloud nine.

And he got higher - Hodgson banged over penalty after penalty as Leicester's handling and composure melted under the conditions and in the face of Sale's aggression. By the time Hodgson added a drop goal to three penalties in the second half, Sale were cruising at 35-13. James Hamilton got a try for Leicester but it was merely a finger in the dam.

After Hodgson had kicked his sixth penalty, the replacement Chris Mayor raced about 70 yards for Sale's fourth try. "It was a great effort and everything worked," Hodgson reflected. "The way we defended, made them turn ball over, kicked cleverly and waited for mistakes... it was a comfortable win." An understatement by miles.

Man for man marking at Twickenham by Paul Trow

Leicester

Star performer: Shane Jennings 8

His charge-down on Hodgson hauled Tigers back into the game. His work at the breakdown was superb and he was sorely missed after he went off.

Geordan Murphy 6

A game of ups and downs for the inconsistent Irishman: plenty of high balls to field and tackles to make. Plenty of errors and poor passing as well.

Alesana Tuilagi 5

The dreadlocked one was deadlocked by the blanket Sale defence as he strove to break free from the back. Looked one-paced and lacked agility.

Ollie Smith 7

The tall centre's lack of favour with the England hierarchy is a mystery. Tackled and ran hard, and skilfully kicked the ball across for Moody's try.

Daryl Gibson 6

Redeemed a clumsy handling display with a couple of brave dives on a bouncing ball when extreme danger, physical as well as tactical, loomed.

Tom Varndell 4

Oh dear, where does one begin? So much was expected from this golden talent, but the elements conspired otherwise. Nothing went right at all.

Andy Goode 6

Did not have his touch-kicking boots on, hoofing it out on the full far too often. But he missed only one of his five place kicks and his passing was reliable.

Harry Ellis 5

What is it about Twickenham that disagrees with this fellow? All the errors and lack of pace that bedevilled his Six Nations were in evidence again.

Graham Rowntree 6

Almost certainly the yeoman prop's last competitive visit to Twickenham, which has been a happy hunting ground for him. Not yesterday though!

George Chuter 6

One felt for this forceful hooker at a time when he was keen to catch the eye and resurrect his England chances. But the slippery ball was not his ally.

Julian White 5

Where this toothless performance leaves England's front-row enforcer is a moot point. His scrummaging was ineffectual and he brought nothing else to the party.

Leo Cullen 5

A long way down the current pecking order of Irish locks, and one can see why. His line-out work is adequate, but he tends to give away too many penalties.

Ben Kay 6

Put himself about and tried to set an example of industry and application to his team-mates. Will be hoping for better things on tour with England.

Lewis Moody 8

Leicester's best forward, but for all his non-stop harrying, chasing, catching, jumping and passing, he was flawed by a couple of serious defensive boobs.

Martin Corry 7

The captain scrapped and burrowed away in a noble but doomed bid to rally his troops and instil the belief that victory was still possible. Needs a rest.

Replacements

James Buckland 5

Flattened by the Sale juggernaut.

Michael Holford 5

Relieved Rowntree to little effect.

James Hamilton 7

Rewarded for his grit with a late try.

Louis Deacon 6

On for Jennings, but out of position.

Austin Healey 7

Left his mark on his farewell to HQ.

Leon Lloyd 5

Late replacement for unlucky Smith.

Sam Vesty 7

Skilful and brave, should have started.

Sale

Star performer: Richard Wigglesworth 9

His quicksilver break, wrongfooting Moody, led to the try that put Sale on top. Kept sniping and dished out an impeccable service to Hodgson.

Jason Robinson 7

Had few runs with the ball, but, in truth, the conditions didn't allow it. Switched to his 'B' game and kicked soundly downfield and into touch.

Mark Cueto 8

Gave the sort of dynamic, roaming display that England fans feared was a thing of the past during the recent Six Nations. Reacted well to poach his try.

Mark Taylor 6

Clocked up his usual impressive tackle count and fearlessly carried the ball into contact when required. Attempts at creativity, though, were a bit limited.

Elvis Seveali'i 6

Like his namesake, was all shook up by the rugged Leicester midfield. But he returned to sender with interest, putting in plenty of tackles and offloads.

Orio Ripol 7

On hand at the right moment to finish off Hodgson's feint. Grew in confidence as the game progressed, tackled hard and ventured off his wing with impunity.

Charlie Hodgson 9

Looked like a pauper when his hesitation led to Tigers' first try, but ended like a prince. His sublime shimmy set up Ripol and his kicking sealed the trophy.

Lionel Faure 7

The latest French prop to tame Julian White. His role went from that of holding the fort to sloshing though the moat and smashing down the drawbridge.

Andy Titterrell 7

Gave it his all with a dashing first-half that terrorised Leicester in the loose and round the fringes. Tackled fiercely and ran about with real purpose.

Stuart Turner 6

Yesterday was the highlight of this old pro's career, and he deserved his moment of glory after another willing afternoon of graft and support play.

Chris Jones 7

If Sale were to win, they had to stand up and be counted in the second row. Jones did just that and showed why he has been welcomed back by England.

Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe 6

Did his job in the line-out with enthusiasm, knowing he would be replaced soon after the break. Sale's hardness is largely due to his physical presence.

Jason White 7

An unspectacular outing by the Scotland captain and Premiership player of the year. Still rolled his sleeves up and got his knees dirty as usual.

Magnus Lund 7

Showed why he is a strong candidates for England's open-side vacancy. Kept his nerve and the ball under control as he hunted down his try.

Sébastien Chabal 8

Like a crescendo, the hirsute musketeer built slowly from a quiet start before reaching full volume with the break that helped set up Ripol's try.

Replacements

Sébastien Bruno 7

Brought controlled power to the mix.

Barry Stewart 6

Came on to give Turner a breather.

Dean Schofield 6

Added bulk kept the set-piece intact.

Christian Day 6

Stepped in after Chabal's nosebleed.

Ben Foden 5

Late stand in for Wigglesworth.

Valentin Courrent 5

Sneaked on and kicked a conversion.

Chris Mayor 7

Sensational interception for last try.