Sale Sharks vs Northampton Saints

Penalty Saints at the breakdown though! And Biggar sends it to the corner.

Saints work hard but knock on and Sale collect. They play on with the clock dead here.

Saints maul from the lineout before Van Wyk goes it alone. Saints are over the halfway line now and earn a penalty there. Tupai takes it quickly.

Penalty Saints at the scrum and Biggar sends it to touch for a lineout inside Sale's half.

Clean at the lineout for Saints and they play quickly but are penalised for a forward pass. Scrum Sale.

Penalty Saints at the breakdown! Biggar sends it to touch for a lineout back at halfway.

Sale maul from the lineout but Saints hold them and they're forces to use the ball. They're up to the five metre line now and pushing.

Penalty Sale at the maul that follows the lineout and James sends it to the corner.

Hutchinson dinks his way through the middle to get Saints back on the front foot and they keep pushing towards the 22. But there Sale earn the penalty at the breakdown as they get over the ball. James sends it to touch for a lineout back in Saints' half.

Overthrow at the lineout for Saints though and Sale clear. Lineout Saints again just outside the Sale 22.

Sale look to maul the lineout but Saints hold them and De Klerk is forces to use it. Saints turn the ball over though and Tuala boots it downfield. Ashton is there but the ball comes off him into touch so it's a lineout for Saints.

Saints use the ball quickly but Bean gets isolated and Sale earn a penalty at the breakdown. James sends the ball to touch for a lineout back in Saints' half. 

Penalty Saints as Sale are penalised for a high tackle. Biggar sends it to touch for a lineout in Sale's half.

Sale use the ball quickly from the lineout but Saints turnover quickly and play on themselves.

Reinach is replaced by Tupai as we set the lineout.

Saints turn over though and push forwards before Biggar clears to touch. Lineout Sale back on Saints' 22.

Sale work up to Saints' five metre line and continue to push.

But Sale intercept a long-range pass and are now pushing in Saints' 22. 

Overthrow at the lineout from Sale and Saints play on. 

Penalty Sale at the scrum. Du Preez sends the ball into the corner.

Ratuniyarawa is replaced by Bean as we let the scrum. 

Sale look to maul from the lineout but Saints hold them. De Klerk whips the ball out wide but Sale knock on there. Scrum Saints.

Reinach clears from the lineout and Sale have the lineout.

Matavesi enters play, with Haywood making way. 

Sale bring the ball wide and think they've scored but McGuigan is pushed into touch before grounding the ball. Lineout Saints instead. 

Sale collect the high ball and push forwards.

Tuala replaces Collins as we restart.

Du Preez sends the long-range kick wide though and Saints have the 22 drop out.

Penalty Sale at the scrum this time and Du Preez points to the posts. 

Harrison replaces Oosthuizen as we set the scrum. 

Saints push back over halfway but are deemed to have knocked on. Scrum Sale there.

Sale steal the lineout though and De Klerk boxes clear. Naiyaravoro is there though and Saints play on.

Penalty Saints at the scrum and Biggar sends it into touch. Lineout Saints.

Cooper-Woolley replaces John as we restart with a scrum. 

 We pause the game though as there's a clash of heads.

Sale play quickly from the lineout but Saints hold them before their own 22. The home side keep coming but Saints turn the ball over and play on.

Ludlam scampers into the 22 before the ball comes back inside. But there Saints are penalised for being offside and Du Preez sends the penalty into touch for a lineout.

Ratuniyarawa takes the lineout and Saints play on. 

Sale take the restart and De Klerk boxes but it heads straight out. Lineout Saints back in Sale's 22. 

Front row changes for Saints as Franks and Van Wyk enter the game, with Waller and Painter making way.

No conversion from Du Preez and Biggar restarts.

Sale come forwards with a penalty advantage and eventually we come back for it. Du Preez sends it to the corner.

HIA for Proctor and Francis enters the game in his place.

Sale take the restart but clear just after and Naiyaravoro takes it. But Sale earn the penalty at the breakdown and Du Preez sends it to touch.

Sale push on Saints' 22 and keep coming.

Sale come wide but knock the ball on and Saints play on with the advantage before Biggar clears. Lineout Sale.

Reinach boxes clear though and Sale will have the lineout.

Saints push but the ball comes forwards and Sale play on. They boot it downfield and Saints get there though and play on themselves.

Collins claims the restart and Saints push on in Sale's 22. 

Biggar restarts things here at the AJ Bell.

Sale claim the lineout though and De Klerk boxes clear. Collins is there but he's pushed into touch. Lineout Sale. 

Penalty Saints at the lineout and Biggar sends it deep into the 22. Lineout Saints there. 

Not straight at the lineout from Sale and Saints will have the scrum. 

Saints play on from the lineout but are penalised for taking a man off the ball and Du Preez sends the resulting penalty into touch for a lineout on halfway. 

Saints play quickly and Reinach is away. He's up to the 22 before he's taken down and Saints come wide. The ball is lost there though and De Klerk boxes clear. Lineout Saints.

De Klerk boxes and Naiyaravoro is there. He's away down the middle and gets up to the 22 before he's taken down. Somehow Sale get the ball there though and clear. Lineout Saints.

Biggar hacks the ball through and Sale have the lineout back in their own 22. 

Saints play on from the lineout and work into Sale's half quickly. They keep pushing.

Biggar sends the kick long and Ashton is there but Hutchinson forces him into touch. Lineout Saints on halfway.

Du Preez's kick heads wide though and Saints have the 22 drop out.

Saints defend hard but are pinged for offside and Sale will have the penalty. Du Preez points to the posts.

Biggar takes the restart and Saints push forwards again. Reinach boxes but Hammersley is there. Sale come forwards and work up to Saints' 22.

Lawes takes the lineout and Hutchinson breaks through and makes it all the way up to the five metre line before he's taken down. The tackle is high though and Saints have the penalty. Biggar sends it to the corner.

Penalty Sale at the breakdown and they use it quickly. Ludlam gets over the ball though and earns Saints the penalty. Biggar sends it to touch but it doesn't quite get there and De Klerk sends it to touch. Lineout Saints on halfway.

Free kick Saints at the scrum and Biggar sends it to touch. Lineout Sale back in their own half.

Saints take the lineout but Reinach's box kick is charges down. Sale collect but knock on just after. Scrum Saints.

Biggar returns the restart and aerial tennis ensues before Sale's James finds touch. Lineout Saints inside their own 22. 

Saints take the lineout cleanly and push into Sale's 22 quickly. They earn another penalty at the breakdown and Biggar points to the posts. 

Lawes takes the lineout and Saints have a penalty coming too. They play on with the advantage before we come back for it. Biggar sends it to the corner.

De Klerk boxes the restart again and Saints will have the lineout just inside Sale's half.

Sale take the lineout and use the ball quickly. Naiyaravoro strips the ball though and Saints play on again. 

Lawes takes the lineout and Saints push forwards before Reinach boxes. Saints are penalised for being offside though and Sale have the penalty. Du Preez sends it to touch for lineout on Saints' 22. 

Reinach dives on the ball as it pings out of the scrum and Saints play on. Reinach pings the ball back to Biggar who clears. Ashton take the lineout quickly but is pushed into touch just after. Lineout Saints.

Saints push over the halfway line but Sale intecept and boot the ball downfield. Furbank is there but he carries the ball over the try line and Sale will have the scrum. 

Sale collect the restart and De Klerk clears. Furbank is there to take the high ball and Saints play on.

Penalty Sale as Saints fail to roll away and Du Preez points to the posts with this one.

Lawes disrupts the lineout but Sale just manage to keep possession. They play on.

Sale collect the restart and though Saints defend well, they concede through a high tackle. Du Preez sends the ball into the corner for a Sale lineout in Saints' 22. 

Saint's last game before Christmas is on! Du Preez gets us underway here at the AJ Bell...