WANDERERS 3

Guinness 'A' League

Heywood Road

Monday, September 19, 2005

Wanderers' third outing in the Guinness 'A' League ended in defeat at Sale's Heywood Road.

Wanderers opened brightly, establishing a strong forward platform, particularly in the lineout, and created space for Dan Richmond to burst through the middle. However, the vital bit of luck needed to break through a back-line including England international Steve Hanley eluded them as three kicks ahead in the opening five minutes ricocheted off the Jets midfield.

Having held out, the Jets backs then created two converted tries in nine minutes. Hanley sparked both, and though the first involved a powerful break by Epi Taione and good finishing by Matt Riley, the second was rather fortuitous. The rushing Wanderers defence forced Jets fly-half Rhys Jones to slice his up-and-under. Unfortunately it went straight to Nick Wakley, who fed Hanley. With Robert Todd and then Wakley in support the try was a formality.

Nevertheless, the expected try-fest failed to materialise, primarily due to the strong Wanderers defence. Three points were pulled back by Paul Diggin's 25th-minute penalty and while this was answered in kind by Jones, the visitors established some good territory and possession towards the end of the half.

Sale extended their lead after an even and scrappy opening 10 minutes of the second half, thanks to a blind-side break down the left by John Carter that ended over the line. Jones again converted, but the score was the last time the Jets would see the whitewash until injury-time.

The remainder of the half belonged to the Wanderers, at least in terms of territory and possession. But like the first half, attack after attack foundered on an impenetrable defence.

Will Harries was set free down the left, brought down 10 metres short by a suspiciously high tackle and Diggin was denied a scoring chance by a lucky bounce into Ben Foden's arms. Richmond came just shy of the line from a quickly tapped penalty, and Julian Bishop was felled by a powerful pincer tackle. Ben Patston's tactical kicking also shone, regularly pinning the Jets in their own 22.

Then against the run of play, Sale broke through once more. David Tait burst down the left and chipped Harries. A penalty was awarded for a late tackle, and from the quick tap Jones cross-kicked straight to Hanley who crossed for the try. It was not what either side deserved, but the Northampton youngsters will have learned much from the experience.

Teams:
Sale Jets - Wakley; Riley, Todd (Foden 60mins), Taione (Duffy 16mins), Hanley; Jones, Martens; Faure (Roberts 61mins), Briggs (capt), Coutts (Mantell 63mins), Lloyd, Day (Townson 49mins), Newton (Hills 56mins), Carter, Anglesea (Tait 40mins).

Wanderers - Harries; Maggs (Elliott 61mins), Barnard, Vilk, Diggin; Myring (Patston 56mins), Jones (Bishop 63mins); Harbut (Pitfield 69mins), Richmond, Budgen (Beech 28mins (Heliasmenos 59mins)), Rae, Boome (Hopley 40mins), Powell, Supple, Seely (capt).

Scorers:
Sale Jets - Tries: Riley, Wakley, Carter, Hanley; Cons: Jones (3); Pen: Jones.

Wanderers - Pen: Diggin.

CLOCKWATCH:
13mins    Sale Try: Riley; Con: Jones          7-0
22mins    Sale Try: Wakley; Con: Jones     14-0
25mins    Wanderers Pen: Diggin               14-3
33mins    Sale Pen: Jones                         17-3
51mins    Sale Try: Carter; Con Jones         24-3
81mins    Sale Try: Hanley                         29-3