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Sale Sharks go a month unbeaten with win over London Irish

By on in Rugby Union, Sale Sharks

Sale Sharks won 37-14 this weekend, extending their unbeaten streak to seven wins from seven games this season.

The Sharks have taken 24 from a possible 25 points in the league and sit in second place behind leaders Saracens.

In their first BT Sport appearance this season, Sale put on a dazzling show for the cameras under the bright lights of the AJ Bell.

Raffi Quirke returned to the starting team for the first time this season for Sale, while London Irish new signing So’otala Fa’aso’o was named to make his debut for Irish.

Sharks dominated early possession and struck the first blow through Dan Du Preez, who crashed over from short range. The Number 8 who signed a new 3-year deal with the club this week, giving the fans a taste of what he yet has to give.

Sale extended their lead through a Rob Du Preez penalty before making it 15-0. A period of sustained pressure in Irish’s half led to fullback Joe Carpenter finding space out wide and diving into the corner. A second try in his third Premiership game for the 21-year-old.

Sale then conceded off the subsequent restart immediately after the Carpenter try. Failing to execute their kick reception routine just before halftime and Irish winger Ollie Hassell-Collins pounced on the loose ball to punish the mistake. 15-7 at halftime.

Sale started the second-half with pace and a Raffi Quirke grubber kick bamboozled Hassell-Collins and was eventually grounded in goal by Sale’s Tom Roebuck, the winger demonstrating the poacher’s instinct that has made him a fan favourite in Salford. Du Preez converting for a 22-7 lead.

Irish replied quickly through a Benhard Janse Van Rensburg try but Roebuck re-extended Sale’s lead with his second try of the game as the Sharks fully arrested the momentum of the game.

There was more to come as Sale added another Du Preez penalty and a try for hooker Ewan Ashman from a driving maul, the cherry on the cake of a thoroughly comprehensive performance and a bonus point victory.

The only mire on a thorough and impressive performance was the injury to replacement hooker Akker Van Der Merwe with around 10 minutes to go. The South African caught with his foot planted in a ruck and was stretchered off with a suspected knee injury, he will likely miss much if not all of the rest of the season.

Sale face Harlequins at the AJ Bell next Sunday, you can buy tickets here.

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