Premiership: Sale 12-11 Harlequins - Ford helps Sharks beat Quins

Sale Sharks edged Harlequins 12-11 in an attritional contest at the Salford Community Stadium to open their Premiership campaign with a victory.

Jack Walker crossed for Quins and Leigh Halfpenny slotted a penalty on his Premiership debut, but three George Ford kicks gave Sale a slim 9-8 lead at the break.

Quins were denied a second try by the television match official (TMO), but chances remained rare with handling errors and ill-discipline costing both sides in tricky, wet conditions.

Halfpenny, playing his first-ever Premiership match, kicked Quins in front from long range, but Ford's fourth penalty with six minutes left sneaked the win.

Last seasonâ€TMs play-off semi-finalists have now won their opening Premiership fixture in five successive seasons and lost just one home league match since October 2022, but Harlequins came within moments of ending those proud runs.

Fast-starting Quins were soon into the hosts 22 but spurned a good scoring chance by knocking-on close to the line - the first of several costly handling errors in good positions.

Sale were given an early scare when Tom Curry was helped off the field seven minutes into his first home game in almost a year following injury, but the England flanker soon returned to play the rest of the half.

The Quins pack lost just six of their own scrums last season, but Sale pressure forced them to concede a 17th-minute penalty against the head and Ford booted the hosts ahead.

The England fly-half extended the lead from the tee, but Harlequins continued to cause problems and deservedly claimed the first try, five minutes before the break, when Walker was driven over.

Halfpennyâ€TMs first contribution was to send the conversion well off target, but the former Wales full-back soon made amends by kicking Quins in front after Bevan Rodd went off his feet at a ruck.

Yet Quins coughed up a penalty straight from the restart and Fordâ€TMs third penalty, right on half-time, sneaked them back in front.