Leeds Carnegie 3 Sale Sharks 6: Attacking dynamic is lacking as Leeds lose out to Sale

If they were to build on the achievement of staying in English rugby's top flight last season, coaches Neil Back and Andy Key believed an offensive dynamic must be added to their spirited defence.

In the five games prior to last night they had not managed to find the blend of devastating offence and robust defence.

There had been signs, notably in the Challenge Cup against Stade Francais, but they had not quite got there.

And after this narrow defeat last night in a game they should have won but admittedly, probably didn't do enough to win, the question begging to be asked is is it now time to go back to basics?

Leeds survived last year thanks to their forward strength, and although 16 games remain and there is plenty of time to escape, the time to revert to strengths is closing in.

Sale, for their part, also did not do enough to merit the four points they earned, but they were streetwise enough to claim the victory and condemn Leeds to their sixth straight defeat.

They didn't even need Charlie Hodgson, the Halifax-born fly-half who has been Leeds's tormentor-in-chief in recent meetings.

Kicking responsibilities went to Nick Macleod whose two efforts outweighed the one scored by his Welsh compatriot Ceiron Thomas, who missed the chance for Leeds to snatch an equaliser late on.

There was further worrying news for Leeds.

Hendre Fourie, the club's outstanding flanker, left the fray at the interval after injuring his ribs in contact.

The 31-year-old South Africa-born back row has forced his way into Martin Johnson's elite squad over the last year and is hoping to earn his debut in some guise next month in the Autumn Internationals.

He was on the verge of a first cap in the summer tour to Australia before a calf injury robbed him of the chance to represent his adopted country.

And it will be a nervous wait for a full diagnosis on the extent of the rib damage he sustained last night, with Johnson's squad set to meet up on Monday ahead of the autumn opener against New Zealand on November 6.

Although Leeds and Sale will never be one of the most intense of sporting rivalries, as players thundered into tackles early on last night it was clear there is no love lost between these cross-Pennines enemies.

No quarter was given as an attritional war developed with Leeds gamely attempting to play their way into attacking territory through scrum-half Scott Mathie and fly-half Lachlan Mackay repeatedly initiating phases.

Mackay was making his first start at No 10 with Thomas back in the team at full-back.

After the kicking woes of last Sunday against Stade Francais, Leeds fans would have been relieved to see the Welshman back at the fulcrum of the hosts' kicking game, but even he was errant with his only attempt of a scoreless first half on 16 minutes.

Twice he kicked Leeds into the opposition 22 but on both occasions the opportunity was squandered, firstly when Fourie was punished for not releasing and then when James Tincknell spilled the ball and turned over possession.

Sale were content to use the trusty boot of Hodgson to steer them out of danger and into promising positions, but even the England player couldn't transform a turgid first half.

It was almost a points-fest at the start of the second half as first Thomas kicked Leeds into a 3-0 lead, and then Nick Macleod responded with a 30-metre attempt of his own after seeing a drop goal attempt, when the referee had allowed the advantage, strike an upright.

Macleod, who had assumed kicking duties with Hodgson nursing a knock, gave Sale the lead on 58 minutes and was presented with a chance to extend that lead as Leeds were guilty of repeated indiscipline, but the former Cardiff centre's ambitious effort from inside his own half only hit the post.

Leeds by now had made a raft of changes, among them a welcome return for back row Danny Paul, the academy product who has been dogged by injuries ever since Leeds reclaimed their Premiership place 18 months ago.

Rib injuries have been the main problem in recent times for the 23-year-old and Fourie will be hoping the damage he sustained last night will not require similar time out.

Thomas had a chance to snatch a draw from just inside the Sale half but from a central position on 72 minutes he pushed his kick wide.

Leeds's consolation was a losing bonus point but there will be little comfort in that statistic.

Leeds Carnegie: Thomas, Stephenson, Tincknell (Barrow 58), Burrell, Blackett, Mackay, Mathie; Hardy (Alonso 66), Thompson (Titterrell 58), Gomez (Swainston 66), Denton, Wentzel, Myall, Fourie (Oakley 40), Browne (Paul 58). Unused replacements: Fury, Fa'afili.

Sale Sharks: Williams, Cohen, Macleod, Tuilaga, Cueto, Hodgson, Cliff; Sheridan (Croall 68), Briggs, Wihongi (Forster 68), Lewaravu, Rouse, Fearns, McMillan (Brightwell 70), Koyamaibole (Ormsby 51). Unused replacements: Thomas, Leck, Bell, Brady.

Referee: Jerome Garces (France).