Sale powered into second place in the English Premiership after crushing Newcastle 31-16 at the AJ Bell Stadium on Friday. Tries from Marland Yarde and Lood De Jager gave Sale an 18-6 lead at half-time and they were never in danger of surrendering that advantage. AJ MacGinty converted one of those efforts and also added two first-half penalties, while Newcastle's response came via the boot of Brett Connon. Connon was successful for a third time off the tee in the second period but two more MacGinty three-pointers effectively sealed a thoroughly deserved win for Alex Sanderson's men. Joel Matavesi and Simon Hammersley traded late tries in the closing stages. London Irish centre Terrence Hepetema was sent off as Leicester won a 33-32 thriller. The Tigers had rested a number of their leading players at Bristol last weekend in readiness for this fixture and they were rewarded with a morale-boosting success. Kobus Van Wyk, Oli Chessum and Kuri Murimurivalu scored Leicester's tries. Zack Henry converted the first two and kicked three penalties, while Johnny McPhillips added a penalty and a conversion. Ollie Hassell-Collins, Matt Cornish and Paddy Jackson crossed for Irish with Jackson adding two penalties and two conversions. smg/dj