Sale Sharks 15-12 Leeds Carnegie, Aviva Premiership, March 25
Back still believes
ESPNscrum Staff
March 25, 2011
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Sale's Dwayne Peel exploits a gap in the Leeds defence, Sale Sharks v Leeds Carnegie, Aviva Premiership, Edgeley Park, Stockport, England, March 25, 2011
Sale's Dwayne Peel exploits a gap in the Leeds defence © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Charlie Hodgson
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Leeds head coach Neil Back is refusing to give up on his side's chances of staying in the Aviva Premiership despite Sale's 15-12 victory at Edgeley Park pushing the size of that task towards miracle territory.

Charlie Hodgson's five penalties proved enough for Sale as Leeds narrowly missed out on a desperately needed win with four rounds remaining, but when Back was asked if he still believes his team can avoid the drop, he was adamant there is still hope.

"Absolutely," he said. "Last year we got the job done and I believe we will get the job done this year as well. I believe we can get what we need in the games remaining and stay in the Premiership."

Despite Leeds having the better of the play and scoring two tries to Sale's none, the clinical hosts had the double boost of getting four much-needed points while denying their fellow strugglers all but a losing bonus point.

Sale executive director of sport Steve Diamond praised the performance of outgoing Hodgson, who will join Saracens in the summer.

"At this level Charlie is top drawer and he'll be sadly missed when he leaves," Diamond said. "People like Charlie will be difficult to replace. In terms of the game, our first half wasn't brilliant. We were off the pace and Leeds came like the fighting force they are.

"It was an error-strewn game and that's what happens when two sides are fighting at the bottom of the league and fortunately we got the four points which will give us a bit of breathing space. It wasn't a great spectacle but thankfully we got the result."

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