Northampton Saints vs Sale Sharks

Saints defend hard to hold Sale inside their own half but are penalised for a high tackle there. James puts it into touch for a lineout in Saints' 22. 

The ball comes wide to Sleightholme who hacks through to chase himself but the bouncing ball beats him to the dead ball line. We come back for a Sale scrum just outside their own 22. 

Coles is up for the lineout and Mitchell sends it high. Sale get there and Thomas sends it high too. Furbank is up for it and Saints play on. 

Hill is replaced by Davison as we set the lineout. 

Graham comes forwards off the scrum and Saints earn the penalty at the breakdown too as Sale fail to release. Smith puts it into touch for a lineout back on halfway. 

Litchfield replaces Odendaal as we set the scrum. 

Saints defend hard at the maul and force the knock on from Sale. Scrum Saints. 

Saints push Sale back on the restart but are penalised at the breakdown when they're found offside there. Eventually we come back for it and James sends it into touch for a lineout on Saints' 22. 

Graham replaces Augustus as we restart.

Saints think they've scored through Furbank and we're with the TMO to check it.

Big shove from Saints at the scrum and they earn the penalty there. 

We pause the game while Sale's JL du Preez is seen to by the medics. We'll restart with a Saints scrum. 

Lawes is up for the lineout and Freeman pushes forwards. Haffar has a go and Saints are within inches again. 

Pearson steals the ball on the restart and Saints charges forwards into Sale's half. They have the advantage coming too as Sale fail to roll away and when we come back for it Smith puts it into the corner. 

Coles is up for the lineout and Sleightholme breaks through off the back of it. Saints are quickly up to Sale's 22 now and pushing. 

Penalty Saints at the scrum though as Sale collapse it and Smith puts the ball into touch for a lineout back near halfway. 

Ford hacks through for Roebuck to chase and though Furbank gets there first, he carries the ball over the tryline. Scrum Sale on Saints' five metre line.

Furbank and Langdon push forwards as Sale send the ball Saints' way on the restart. Saints push up still but they're penalised for going off their feet at the breakdown and Ford puts the ball into touch. Lineout Sale in Saints' half.  

Scott-Young is replaced by Lawes as we set the lineout.

Huge shove from Saints at the scrum but Sale manage to keep it. But Saints defend hard and dive on the loose ball at the breakdown. Mitchell boosts it downfield and Reed is there. Saints are penalised at the breakdown too and Ford puts the ball into touch for a lineout on Saints' 22. 

Haffar replaces Waller as we set the scrum. 

Sale regather their own restart and though Saints steal the ball it goes forwards. Scrum Sale. 

Davison is replaced by Hill as we restart. 

Penalty Saints at the scrum and Smith puts it into the corner. 

It's scrappy at the lineout but the knock on comes from Sale and Saints have the scrum. 

Warr clears to touch off the lineout and Saints will have this throw in. 

Saints come forwards off the lineup before Hutchinson hacks through. Reed gets there first but his clearing kick is charged down into touch by Odendaal. Lineout Sale on their own 22. 

Warr clears the restart and Saints will have the lineout on halfway. 

Matavesi and Munga make way as we restart, with Langdon and Moon entering the game. 

Sale think they've scored from close range but we're with the TMO to check the grounding. 

Sale disrupt Saints off the lineout though and Roebuck boots loose ball downfield. Saints are penalised for a tackle off the ball there too and Ford puts the resulting penalty into touch for a lineout in Saints' 22. 

Ford clears from the lineout and Saints have the throw in. 

The ball comes wide right to Scott-Young who charges down the wing before it comes back inside. Saints whip the ball the other way and Hutchinson finds Sleightholme out wide. But the winger is just pushed into touch before he can ground the ball. Lineout Sale. 

Warr return the ball Saints' way and they push up into Sale's half but there Smith's kick is charged down into touch. Lineout Saints inside Sale's half. 

Augustus claims the restart and Saints push forwards before Mitchell sends the box kick up. Roebuck is there but Saints pressure hard and hold Sale on halfway. Warr sends a kick up of his own and Roebuck gathers this own too. Sale play on. 

Ford gets us restarted her at the Gardens! 

Penalty coming for Sale at the scrum and we come back for it. Ford puts the ball into touch for a lineout just inside Saints' half. 

We pause the game while Sale's Van Rhyn is seen to by the medics. We'll restart with a Sale scrum. 

Warr sends the box kick up off the lineout and Carpenter is the man who gets to is first. Sale have the advantage coming too as Saints are penalised for not releasing at the breakdown. 

Augustus bounces his way through Ford and Saints are quickly into Sale's 22. The ball comes back to Smith in the pocket but he runs it in forwards. Saints play on but Smith's crossfield to Sleightholme is carried straight out in the wind. Lineout Sale on halfway. 

Penalty Saints at the breakdown as Sale go off their feet at the breakdown after sending the ball back Saints' way. Smith puts the ball into touch for a lineout just outside Sale's 22. 

Free kick Sale at the scrum as Saints push early and Ford sends the ball skyward. Furbank is under it though and Saints play on.

Saints look to come forwards quickly off the lineout but there's a knock on in the midfield and Sale have the scrum. 

Penalty advantage coming for Saints as Sale make contact with the jumper at the lineout and eventually we come back for it. Smith puts it into touch for another lineout, this one on Sale's 22. 

Saints defend hard at the maul but Sale manage to keep it. But Augustus counters hard at the breakdown and Saints earn the penalty too as Sale are found offside. Smith puts the ball into touch for a lineout on halfway. 

Ford chips over the top and Saints gather inside their own 22 before Mitchell sends the ball clear and into touch. Lineout Sale outside Saints' 22. 

More kick tennis between the side before Furbank decide to run it. He finds Sleightholme outside him, who in turn finds Augustus but the No. 8 is just pushed into touch. Lineout Sale just inside Saints' half. 

Pearson finds Mitchell off the top of the lineout and the ball goes through Smith and Hutchinson before it comes forwards off Odendaal's hands as he tries to break through. Scrum Sale. 

Big shove at the scrum from Saints but Sale manage to keep it. Saints take the ball into contact and have the advantage coming. Eventually we come back for it and Smith sends it into touch for a lineout just outside Sale's 22. 

The wind holds Smith's kick short of the posts and Sale return the ball back Saints' way. Mitchel chips over the top and Warr returns it with a box kick. Furbank is under it but Saints knock on in the next phase and Sale will have the scrum. 

Penalty Saints at the scrum again and this time Smith points to the posts. 

Pearson trucks it up the middle but there's a knock on at the next breakdown and Sale have the scrum. 

Sale peel off the lineout at pace but are penalised for crossing. Smith finds touch for a Saints lineout inside Sale's half. 

Saints gather this lineout too and maul forwards before whipping it out into the midfield. But there they're penalised for going off their feet at the breakdown and Ford finds touch with the penalty. Lineout Sale.

Penalty Saints at the scrum and Smith puts it back into the corner for another Saints lineout. 

Pearson is up for the lineout and Saints maul forwards but Sale hold firm and earn the put in at the scrum. 

Saints strip the ball from Sale on the restart and push forwards before Smith sends the high ball up. Sale get there but are penalised for coming in at the side at the breakdown and Smith puts the resulting penalty into the corner. 

Wide from Ford with the kick off the tee and Saints have the 22 drop out to restart. 

Scott-Young is up for the lineout and Odendaal and Scott-Young come forwards but Sale get over the ball just inside Saints' half to earn the penalty. Ford points to the posts. 

Saints get up to steal the lineout and fire the ball back Sale's way. Ford finds touch and it's Saints who have the lineout this time. 

Warr clears off the lineout and though Furbank is under it, Sleightholme's clearing kick heads straight out. Lineout Sale just outside Saints' 22. 

Ford sends a spiral bomb up and Mitchell gathers it cleanly, calling for the mark and finding touch well. Lineout Sale on halfway. 

Mitchell sends a box kick up but Carpenter is back to mark it and he sends it back Saints' way. Mitchell sends another big kick high and it's Sale who rise highest to gather it. They play on inside Saints' half again. 

The sides exchange kicks early doors before Saints take the ball into contact just side their own half. Augustus breaks the line for Saints before Smith does the same to get play into Sale's half.