The Sharks stand-off, who toured with England over the summer, was ruled out of the starting XV by the 11-week recovery rule.

Sale could have done with his boot in the first half when a series of chances went begging which would have put his side in the clear.

The home side, looking to avenge last season’s wild card final defeat against the Tigers, piled forward early on with some swift passing movements but failed to take advantage as stand-off Mike Hercus failed with two penalty attempts.

The pressure finally paid off when Mark Cueto made a good break and a precise diagonal kick from Hercus found newly-appointed Sale skipper Jason Robinson waiting out wide with plenty of time to gather and score.

Hercus was again well wide with the kick and Tigers responded positively and were denied a try by the video replay – but their good work was undone when a loose pass in his own 22 by stand-off Andy Goode was intercepted by Sale scrum-half Ryan Redpath who darted over to score, but another two points went begging as Hercus again fired wide.

Sale could have been well clear 20 minutes into the game but after yet another Sale rampage Hercus missed his fifth kick at goal and let Tigers off the hook.

Hercus was again unlucky on the half hour when he hit the post with a snap drop goal and Tigers took full advantage to take the ball back upfield where centre Darryl Gibson got on the end of a string of quick passes to touch down in the corner.

Goode made no mistake with the conversion to reduce the gap to just three points and minutes later he levelled the scores with a drop goal from in front of the posts.

Hercus redeemed himself slightly just before the break with a neat back pass which sent Steve Hanley charging through to provide space for fellow winger Cueto who touched down and Hercus then added the extras.

Tigers could have hit straight back but winger John Holtby knocked with the line beckoning.

However Goode managed to cut the half-time deficit to four points with his second drop goal of the game.

Goode reduced the gap still further with a penalty after the break while at the other end Hodgson, who came on at the interval to replace Hercus went wide with his first attempt at a drop goal.

Goode then gave Tigers the lead with a 55th-minute penalty as Tigers dominated the early stages of the second half.

Hodgson then had a drop goal disallowed for an earlier knock-on but then hit the target minutes later to give Sharks the lead which he extended with a penalty with three minutes remaining.

Hodgson then sealed victory with his third successful kick in injury-time.