Home » Rugby Union

Sale Sharks through to Premiership Cup semi-final with win over Harlequins

By on in Rugby Union, Sport

Sale ran out convincing winners 40-19 at the Salford City Stadium to book themselves a spot in the final four.

Sharks embraced the nature of the cup by making a sweeping 22 changes to the team that beat Gloucester a weekend ago. Bevan Rodd the sole survivor of that side. The extremely youthful Sale 23 featured 16 Sharks academy graduates including numerous current members of the senior academy. Reketi Ma’asi-White was named on the bench for his Sale debut, just one day after his signing from Wasps was announced on social media.

A slightly mismatch Harlequins team travelled to Salford due to their exhibition match vs the Barbarians just a day before at the Stoop. Their side also brimming with senior academy members and very few of their usual matchday 23.

Quins scored first through winger Curtis Barnes before Sharks took the lead through a try for Rouban Birch, the Number 8 using quick-thinking and initiative to quick tap and power his way over after a scrum penalty.

This concluded the scoring for the first half. A cagey first forty minutes with both sides making sloppy errors and failing to capitalise.

The second half started with much more vigour, Sharks asserted some field position early and scored from close range through flanker Matt Postlethwaite.

Quins hit back with a try from fly half Conor Slevin before Sharks re-cemented their seven point lead with Birch scoring his second try.

Sale then began to really hit their stride and string together some exciting phase play. Substitute Kieran Wilkinson broke the Quins line and nearly scored off of one of his first touches of the ball but for a great cover tackle. However, Sharks kept their cool and hooker Ethan Caine powered over for seven more points.

The floodgates opened and Wilkinson again blitzed through the Harlequins defence and slalomed around fullback Cameron Anderson to score sensationally from 40 metres out.

Quins managed to claw back a try of their own when fullback Anderson latched onto a speculative cross field kick from Slevin with three minutes left on the clock.

However, there was still time for Sale to score the try of the night. Throwing the ball around with unhinged ambition, debutant hooker Harry Thompson broke the line and almost scored before the ball was recycled and Wilkinson was again on hand to finish superbly with a devastating handoff and speed. The conversion from Curtis the icing on a sweet victory for Sale. Not only a great win but great experience for future Sharks who demonstrating how bright their futures could be.

Birch was awarded man of the match for his two tries, but Curtis, Caine, Dugdale, Thomas and Wilkinson attributed terrific performances in front of the home crowd.

The win means Sale top their Premiership Cup group and have secured a place in the semi-finals, with their opponents still to be decided. Sale’s next game is at home to Bristol Bears this Saturday in the Premiership, you can buy tickets here: https://www.eticketing.co.uk/salesharksrugby/EDP/Event/Index/281

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *