Champions Leicester moved into first place in English rugby union's Premiership with a 22-15 win at Exeter on Sunday.

The Tigers' fourth successive victory was enough to take them above second placed Northampton and into top spot for the first time this season.

Leicester made a perfect start as centre Manu Tuilagi set up a break before offloading to his brother Alesana to score in the third minute.

Exeter got on the scoreboard when fly-half Ryan Davis landed a penalty to take him past 100 points for the season.

Jeremy Staunton put Tigers further ahead with a penalty but Exeter hit back as Davis split the posts again.

With 10 minutes of the half remaining, Leicester demonstrated their experience as Jordan Crane nipped in to score under the posts, with Staunton converting.

Exeter hit back before the break, with Davis kicking a 15-metre penalty.

The hosts forced Leicester to concede another penalty in the second half and Davis drilled the ball between the upright from out on the left to reduce the arrears to three points.

As the game went in to the final quarter, England fly-half Toby Flood, who started the game on the bench after overcoming an adductor injury, missed a long-range penalty attempt minutes after coming on.

Exeter sensed a chance and full-back Luke Arscott hacked in to the Leicester 22 where Flood failed to collect cleanly. Leicester were penalised in the subsequent play but Davis was unable to kick the three points.

Leicester then exploited a pick and drive to test the Exeter defence and Crane again found a gap for the Tigers third try with Flood adding the extras giving the visitors a 10-point advantage.

With seven minutes remaining, Exeter sub Gareth Steenson kicked a penalty but then failed with another as Leicester clung on.

Elsewhere, Sale ended a run of five consecutive defeats in all competitions by beating Saracens 28-22 to give new coach Pete Anglesea his first win.

Anglesea's first game in charge was a 54-21 humbling at Leicester, but his side looked revitalised in front of their home crowd at Edgeley Park.

They dominated the first half, with new captain Mark Cueto and his predecessor James Gaskell going over in the first 10 minutes and Chris Bell adding a third try before the interval.

Wasps climbed into the top four with a 33-16 victory over Newcastle.

Ben Jacobs and Serge Betsen scored the tries that put Wasps in control and the victory was sealed by 18 points from fly-half Dave Walder and a late penalty try.

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