Aviva Premiership: Sale Sharks edge out Harlequins after Jo Marler's red card while Leicester see off London Irish

Joe Marler’s sending-off proved pivotal as Faf de Klerk’s late penalty helped Sale Sharks secure a 30-29 victory over 14-man Harlequins at the AJ Bell Stadium.

Sale were much the better team in the opening 25 minutes, touching down twice via Byron McGuigan and Rohan Janse van Rensburg, while AJ MacGinty added seven points from the tee.

That gave the Sharks a 17-5 lead – Alofa Alofa responding for Quins – but the visitors came back into the contest late in the first period and were ahead through tries from Charlie Walker and Ross Chisholm.

Marler was then red-carded in the second half but Quins showed excellent game-management to score their fourth try via Jamie Roberts.

The game was not over, however, and Janse van Rensburg crossed the whitewash to set up an exciting finale. The Sharks then went ahead through De Klerk and they duly held on to take a valuable victory.

Meanwhile, Leicester ended a run of six successive defeats in all competitions with a laboured 19-15 victory at home to Aviva Premiership bottom side London Irish.

Matt Toomua, Jonny May and Manu Tuilagi, on his 100th Leicester appearance, scored the tries that earned the Tigers their first Premiership win since 19 November.

Joe Cokanasiga and Alex Lewington replied for a resolute Irish.

PA