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Sale Sharks back in the winner’s circle after win over Gloucester

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Sale snapped their two-game losing streak beating Gloucester 27-17 to go to six wins from eight games this season. 

It was second vs fifth in the Premiership table as Sale faced off vs Gloucester in round nine with Gloucester able to jump Sale into second place with a win in Salford.

Sale’s first game of the Autumn international period saw them without four of their stars, Tom Curry, Jonny Hill and Manu Tuilagi named to represent England while Ewan Ashman was with Scotland. However, after training with England in Jersey all week, Raffi Quirke, Bevan Rodd and Tom Roebuck were not picked and released to play for Sale.

Gloucester were without their own international contingent, Albert Tuisue, Matias Alemanno, Adam Hastings, Santiago Carrerras, Louis Rees Zammit and Chris Harris all involved in the weekends international fixtures.

Sharks struck the first blow inside the first five minutes. With the insurance of a penalty advantage, a beautifully weighted cross-field kick from Rob Du Preez found fullback Joe Carpenter on the left wing to score untouched.

Sale then doubled their lead five minutes later from a dominant driving maul. A collective heave from all eight of the Sale pack, hooker Tommy Taylor the beneficiary and the man with his name on the scoresheet.

Gloucester got back with their own driving maul, hooker Santiago Socino eventually scoring the try. The conversion was missed leaving Sale up nine, 14-5.

Sale soon extended that lead to 12 with Rob Du Preez adding a penalty before Sharks scored the most bizarre and unlikely try of the season so far. A frantic and circus-like sequence of play which saw Tom Roebuck almost score at one-end, only for Gloucester’s Kyle Moyle to run 40-metres and kick to Carpenter who launched another counter attack. He in turn freed Sam James to break the line from his own half and find Ben Curry to score under the posts, to the delight of all the Sale fans.

The tries kept flowing as both team embraced the spirit of the international weekend, this time Gloucester struck back with winger Jake Morris the quickest to gather his own grubber kick and siding over, Evans again missed his conversion to leave the scores at 24-10.

Sale impressively repelled a series of periods of sustained attacking pressure from Gloucester to go into the half time break with their 14-point lead still in tact and fully in the drivers seat.

Gloucester dominated much of the second half but failed to turn any of their possession and territory into points as Sale deterred attack after attack. Sale scored the fist points of the second half with just 10 minutes to go, another Rob Du Preez penalty converted as he maintained his impressive 100% kicking success rate on the day, five for five.

Gloucester finally breached the steadfast Sale defence as Freddie Clarke finished a flowing attacking move.

It proved too little too late for Gloucester, however, as Sale took control of the last five minutes and wound down a thorough and impressive performance and a deserved win.

The victory means Sale stay in second place in the Premiership table and will remain there after their week break due to their six-point buffer over third place Harlequins.

After the game Sale defence coach Mike Forshaw spoke about the significance of Sale’s returning England stars, he said, “we are gutted for them that they did not get picked but England’s loss is our gain, Bevan had a great impact and I thought Tom Roebuck was super again and he is really knocking on the door now for an international spot.

“Unfortunately Raffi got injured today and has a suspected broken wrist, it is a bit of a disappointing end to the day.”

Despite scoring 24 of their 27 points in the first half and losing the second half 3-7, Forshaw said he was very proud of the defensive effort in the second 40, “I thought we defended really well, that will have been their lowest conversion rate from their driving maul which is a real positive for us, I thought we closed the game down really well to not give up a bonus point”.

After the week break Sale host Harlequins on Friday the 18th November in the Premiership Rugby Cup Quarter-final, you can buy tickets here: https://www.eticketing.co.uk/salesharksrugby/EDP/Event/Index/283

 

 

 

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