Northampton Saints vs Sale Sharks

Coles is up for the lineout and Saints maul forwards before Proctor pushes forwards. There's less than a minute left on the clock and Saints play on.

Saints' defence pushes Sale back to the halfway line and though Ford's hack through finds Carpenter, he's pushed into touch. Lineout Saints.

No conversion from Hutchinson out wide and Sale manage to tap the restart back to their own men and play on.

Ribbans is up for the lineout and Augustus and Proctor make ground. Saints play on on Sale's five metre line now. 

Penalty for Saints from the restart as Ramm is hit in the air. Hutchinson sends the ball long into touch and Saints have the lineout in Sale's 22 now.

Quirke sends the ball high and Augustus gets under it. Saints play on.

Saints come wide at speed but Collins' chip through heads straight out and we come back for a Sale lineout just inside their own half. 

Penalty Saints at the scrum after a huge shove and Hutchinson puts the ball into touch for a Saints lineout on halfway. 

Sale knock the ball on though as they try to push close to the try line and Saints will have this scrum. 

Ford chips through for O'Flaherty to chase and though Ramm gets there first, he's deemed to have carried the ball over the try line. Scurm Sale on Saints' five metre.

Saints try to maul forwards from the restart but are held up there. Scrum Sale. 

Cruse and Braley replace R Smith and T James as we set the lineout.

Advantage coming for Saints as they push into Sale's 22 off the restart and we come back for it. Hutchinson puts it into the corner. 

Scott-Young and F Smith are replaced by Coles and Collins as we restart.

Penalty Sale at the lineout as Saints go early while the jumper is still in the air and Du Preez sends the ball into the corner. 

Quirke sends the ball high and James is under it. He finds Proctor with his offload but the centre come winger is just pushed into touch there. Lineout Sale. 

F Smith sends the conversion just wide left from the touchline but Augustus barges forwards off the restart and Saints whip the ball wide to get out of their 22 quickly. James sends the ball high there though and Sale gather it as it comes down.

It's a third for Saints after they patiently work the overlap and Proctor dives over out wide!

T James sends over a huge 50-22 kick from the back of the ruck and Saints have the lineout on Sale's five metre line now.

Du Preez clears from the scrum and Ramm is under it. Saints play on on the halfway line now. 

Petch replaces Hill as we set the scrum. 

Saints charge up to Sale's 22 now but there's a knock on there and Sale have the scrum. 

Saints come forwards before James sends the ball high again and Sale just manage to win the race to the ball. But they return it Saints' way and the home side play on again.

Saints hold Sale's maul and Quirke is forced to get the ball out. He box kicks high at the next phase and Saints play on.

Hinkley is replaced by Graham as we set the lineout.

James clears to touch and Sale have the lineout back near halfway. 

Augustus barges forwards off the restart and Saints work up to the ten metre line before James sends the ball high. Sale get there but Saints' defence is there and Quirke sends a box kick of his own up. Ramm is under it and Saints play on again.

A Waller is replaced by brother E Waller as we restart.

Advantage coming for Saints as Sale make contact in the air at the lineout. We come back for it and Smith puts it back into the corner. 

Smith puts the resulting penalty into the corner. 

Ribbans is up for the lineout and Saints come forwards up to the five metre line but the TMO intervenes for a possible high tackle on F Smith in the build up. 

Warr clears Sale's lines off the restart and Ramm is under the high ball. There's a penalty for Saints at the breakdown too and F Smith puts it into the corner.

After a few resets, it\s Sale's way that the penalty goes and Du Preez points to the posts. 

T James boxes clear from the restart but the ball comes forwards off Saints hands as it comes down. Scrum Sale.

We're back underway here at cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens.

Smith tries to send the ball downfield but his kick finds Sale hands and they run the ball back. They make it up to Saints' 22 and Saints are pinged there as they're found offside. S James puts the ball into the corner. 

Hutchinson clears Saints' lines and aerial tennis ensures. Ramm is the one to break the deadlock and run the ball forwards but he's hit high and Saints have the penalty. Smith puts it into touch for a lineout on halfway. 

No try says the TMO and Saints have the penalty. F Smith sends the ball into touch for a lineout just outside the 22.

Sale think they've scored through JL Du Preez but we're with the TMO for obstruction within the maul.

The penalty goes Sale's way this time though and S James puts the ball into the corner for a Sale lineout there.

Over the top from Saints at the lineout and Hutchinson is there. Saints push forwards but knock the ball on and Sale will have the scrum.

Penalty Saints at the scrum as Sale bind on the arm and F Smith finds touch with his kick. Lineout Saints just outside Sale's 22. 

Saints maul forwards up to the ten metre line, but there's a knock on there as R Smith breaks free and Sale will have the scrum.

Sale try the crossfield kick again but this one heads straight out and Saints have the lineout on their own 22.

Penalty Sale at the scrum thought after the referee deems Saints to have fed the ball in too far. Sale choose the scrum option with the resulting penalty. 

Sale knock on under the high ball after trying to regather their clearing kick and Saints will have the scrum. 

Sale clear from the lineout and Saints play on but Freeman's kick heads straight out again and Sale have the lineout inside Saints' half this time. 

Saints come forwards again at speed and Freeman puts the ball on his boot. But it just finds touch too early and we come back for a Sale lineout on halfway. 

Warr clears from the restart and Ramm is under it. He finds Augustus with his offload and Saints play on.

Sale manage to turn the ball over as Saints look to clear and push from close range now with an advantage coming.

Saints come forwards from the restart and O'Flaherty puts it on his boot. The winger is in chase but Smith managed to scoop up the bouncing ball and runs it into touch. Lineout Sale in Saints' 22 now.

Saints are found accidentally offside off the lineout though and Du Preez finds touch with the resulting penalty for a Sale lineout in Saints' 22. 

James clears from the back of the lineout and finds touch. Lineout Sale back outside Saints' 22.

Sale go short at the lineout and shoot up into Saints' 22 but are pushed into touch themselves there and Saints will have this lineout.

Hutchinson replaces Furbank – who fell awkwardly in the build up to the lineout – as we restart. 

Saints peel forwards off the lineout and make it up to the halfway line but Ramm is just pushed into touch as the ball comes wide. Lineout Sale there.

We come back for the penalty and Smith sends it into touch for a Saints lineout.

Saints push forwards before James boxes high and Sale managed to win the race to the high ball. Sale run it back and make it into Saints' 22. But we're with the TMO to see if there's some foul play from Sale.

No conversion from Du Preez out wide and Warr clears the restart. Ramm takes the lineout quickly and Saints play on on the halfway line now.

Saints hold Sale's maul firm but the away side manage to get the ball out and play on.

Saints come forwards before Smith sends the ball high. Freeman is in chase but Sale just get there first and Warr boxes high. Ramm is under it but he's isolated and Sale get over the ball for the penalty. S James sends the ball into the corner.

Saints try to come wide but knock the ball on there and Saints boot it clear. Furbank returns the high ball, with Warr finding touch with his kick just after. Lineout Saints on halfway. 

Saints push Sale back over the halfway line off the lineout and Du Preez chips through again. Saints return it but Carpenter is pushed into touch by Freeman as he runs it back. Lineout Saints on halfway. 

Saints push Sale back with a strong defensive set and Du Preez is forced to hack through. Furbank is back there and he finds touch with his own kick. Lineout Sale.

Saints come forwards but are penalised for holding on at the breakdown and S James sends the resulting penalty into touch. Lineout Saints on Saints' 22. 

Sale get up for the kick-off but good pressure from Saints' defence forces the box kick from Warr and Ramm gets under it. James puts the ball on his boot too and Sale knock on as it comes down and Saints play on.