SALE SHARKS 34

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 14

Guinness Premiership round ten

Edgeley Park

Monday, December 26, 2005

Saints opened brightly with Paul Diggin's chase of a Luke Myring bomb forcing a Sale knock-on. The subsequent attack built well through Rhodri Davies and Darren Fox, and it was a blow when the latter was penalised for holding on. More of a blow for the travelling support, however, was the sight of Pat Barnard's being carried off with a calf injury to be replaced by Chris Budgen.

Bruce Reihana missed a 40-metre attempt almost immediately after Barnard's departure; a mistake not replicated by Charlie Hodgson in the Sharks' first visit to the Northampton 22.

Hodgson's boot also set up Sale’s first try after Sebastien Chabal's charge from the scrum-base. Sale's England fly-half Hodgson chipped the perfect cross-kick straight into Chris Mayor's hands, and the score was a formality, despite the best efforts of Reihana and John Rudd.

A Johnny Howard tap-tackle on Andrew Sheridan stopped a charge by the giant prop. But Sale were six more points to the good thanks to two further Hodgson penalties inside three minutes.

Saints scored their first points at the end of the first quarter. Reihana collected the high ball well, and sent Paul Diggin through a gap that took him to the Sale 22. The Sharks infringed, and Reihana stepped up to land his first penalty. And three minutes later the visiting captain nearly set up a try.

A 45-metre penalty hit the post, the ball hit Chabal on its way down and Saints had a five-metre scrum. Diggin, Damien Browne and Reihana all pushed for the line, but Saints conceded an accidental offside and Sale's Valentin Courrent cleared. However, his kick missed touch and Saints were back on the offensive.

Reihana clattered into Magnus Lund, and Davies's lovely offload from the tackle sent Diggin, then Jon Clarke towards the line. And though Ben Lewitt was held up, referee Pearson had been playing advantage, and Reihana slotted his second penalty. Hodgson answered in kind four minutes later, and following Daniel Browne's charge that forced Robert Todd into killing the ball and a sinbinning, Reihana notched his third penalty for a 17-9 score-line.

Which was how it stayed until the break, despite a flurry of attacking salvos from both sides. Courrent sniped into Saints' 22, and when the ball went loose Clarke was on hand to launch the counterattack. But this – and the half – ended abruptly with Chabal's throw of Rudd into touch.

Davies and Rudd combined on the right to put Saints on the front foot as the second period opened. But as Todd came back on it was Sale who increased their lead. Hodgson opted to kick a penalty to the corner, giving his pack the platform to drive for the line. And following Damien Browne's yellow card for coming in from the side, Chabal flicked the ball to Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe to cross. Hodgson converted for a 15-point Sale lead.

There followed some backs-to-the-wall defending as Sale looked to press home their man advantage. But two overlaps were wasted, and when Hodgson knocked on 10 metres short, Saints cleared. It was a mistake the Sale number 10 would rue a couple of minutes later as his opposite number Luke Myring crossed for a five-pointer.

Darren Fox - in his last action of the day - made the score with his clean break, followed up beautifully by Reihana, Rudd and Davies. Quick ball generated an overlap, and as the Sale defence rushed up, Myring nipped over for his first Saints try.

Hodgson added another three points just past the hour, and once more gave his forwards superb position by kicking a penalty to the corner. And as earlier in the half, his pack obliged. It took several efforts though, as the Saints eight performed heroically to hold out the initial drives. Their opposite numbers mustered themselves one last time and replacement hooker Sebastien Bruno was at the bottom of the pile of bodies to score the try.

Saints pushed for one last consolation score, and Ben Lewitt and Mark Easter came close to their own debut Northampton tries - Lewitt denied by the cornerflag. Daniel Browne charged, as did Mark Robinson, Reihana and Clarke. Tom Smith's final instinctive behind-the-back pass was knocked on though, and Sale showed why they are sitting top of the table.

Teams:
Sale Sharks - Robinson (capt); Cueto, Taylor (Foden 71mins), Todd, Mayor; Hodgson, Courrent (Wigglesworth 40mins); Sheridan, Titterrell (Bruno 62mins), Stewart (Turner 54mins), Fernandez Lobbe, Jones (Day 62mins), White, Lund, Chabal (Evans 62mins).

Northampton Saints - Reihana (capt); Rudd, Clarke, Davies (Vilk 80mins), Diggin; Myring, Howard (Robinson 63mins); Smith, Richmond (Hartley 56mins), Barnard (Budgen 4mins), Lord (Rae 75mins), Damien Browne, Lewitt (Easter 75mins), Fox (Harding 59mins), Daniel Browne.

Scorers:
Sale Sharks - Tries: Mayor, Fernandez Lobbe, Bruno; Cons: Hodgson (2); Pens: Hodgson (5).

Northampton Saints - Try: Myring; Pens: Reihana (3).

Yellow card:
Todd (37mins)
Damien Browne (48mins)
Mayor (78mins)

Attendance:
10,641

CLOCKWATCH:
8mins Sale: Pen Hodgson 3-0
11mins Sale: Try Mayor 8-0
13mins Sale: Pen Hodgson 11-0
16mins Sale: Pen Hodgson 14-0
19mins Saints: Pen Reihana 14-3
26mins Saints: Pen Reihana 14-6
30mins Sale: Pen Hodgson 17-6
37mins Sale: Yellow card Todd
38mins Saints: Pen Reihana 17-9
49mins Sale: Try Fernandez Lobbe Con Hodgson 24-9
59mins Saints: Try Myring 24-14
63mins Sale: Pen Hodgson 27-14
69mins Sale: Try Bruno Con Hodgson 34-14