George Ford of Leicester

Monday evening’s results in the Aviva Premiership Rugby A League semi finals now means that the final will be contested between the top two sides in the Northern Conference, Sale Jets and Leicester Tigers.

The Jets disposed of a much fancied Saracens Storm outfit by the narrowest of margins in a 59 point thriller at Heywood Road, whilst Tigers travelled to the Southern Conference winners, Harlequins, and took another nail biter 19-15.

Sale will be making their debut in the A League final, and will be anxious to overcome an experienced Leicester side, who are the reigning A League champions and have reached a record fifth final, carrying off the silverware on three previous occasions.

SEMI FINALS – 25 APRIL 2011
HARLEQUINS A 15, LEICESTER TIGERS DEVELOPMENT 19 (Twickenham Stoop)
Harlequins A: Rory Clegg(5PG). Leicester Tigers Development: Calum Green(1T), Billy Twelvetrees(1C, 4PG). Attendance: 1000.

SALE JETS 30, SARACENS STORM 29 (Heywood Road)
Sale Jets: Tom Bell(3C, 3PG), Asaeli Boko(2T), Neil McMillan(1T). Saracens Storm: Jared Saunders(1T), Will Fraser(1T), Jake Sharp(3C, 1PG), Kevin Barrett(1T), Justin Melck(1T).

FINAL – 2 MAY
Sale Jets v Leicester Tigers Development (Heywood Road, 7.30pm)

ALL THE PREVIOUS “A LEAGUE” FINALS
2003-04 – NEC Harlequins beat Northampton Saints, 72-28 on aggregate (28-15, 44-13)
2004-05 – Leicester Tigers beat London Wasps, 74-41 on aggregate (35-19, 29-22)
2005-06 – Leicester Tigers beat NEC Harlequins, 58-51 on aggregate (32-34, 26-17)
2006-07 – London Wasps beat Leicester Tigers, 64-49 on aggregate (34-27, 30-22)
2007-08 – London Wasps beat Northampton Wanderers, 59-39 on aggregate (34-3, 25-36)
2008-09 – Northampton Wanderers beat London Wasps, 63-10 on aggregate (26-10, 37-0)
2009-10 – Leicester Tigers beat Harlequins 29-27 at Welford Road