Sale Sharks vs Northampton Saints

Time's up here as Sale continue to push.

Sale push from close range off the lineout while Saints defend hard.

Sale push inside Saints' 22 and earn a penalty after a few phases as Saints fail to roll away. MacGinty puts it back into the corner.

Sale knock on just off the lineout and Saints play on with the advantage. But just as it ends, Sale get over the ball for the penalty. MacGinty sends it into the corner. 

Sale push into Saints' 22 off the lineout but Saints defend hard and Sale chip over the top. Tupai is there though and he finds touch with his own kick. Lineout Sale back near halfway.

Penalty Sale at the scrum though and MacGinty sends the ball into touch for a lineout in Saints' half. 

Solid at the scrum this time and Tupai pushes forwards off the back of it. But the ball comes loose in contact just after and the referee deems it to have come off a Saints hand. Scrum Sale.

Ludlam charges through the middle before Litchfield breaks free and races into the Sale 22. Saints keep coming and Sale knock the ball on as they try to come wide. Scrum Saints.

Wilkins returns to the field and Moon takes his leave again.

Penalty Saints at the scrum after the get a huge shove on. Grayson sends it to touch for a lineout in Sale's half. 

James is replaced my Tupai as we set the scrum.

Sale maul forwards but Saints halt them and the box kick goes up. But it's lost forwards out of Saints hands as it comes back down and Sale will have the scrum. 

Litchfield pushes forwards off the back of the scrum but Coles is pushed into touch just after and Sale will have the lineout.

Ribbans is up for the lineout and Saints push forwards before earning the put in at the scrum at the breakdown. 

Litchfield replaces Francis as we set the lineout.

Warr boxes high from the restart and Saints will have the lineout.

Couple of changes for Saints as we prepare for the penalty: blood replacement for Wilkins and Moon takes his place, Collins is replaced by Gillespie on the wing too.

Solid at the scrum but scrappy hands in the wet sees the ball in Sale's possession. And they earn a penalty too as Saints are pinged for taking a man out off the ball. MacGinty points to the posts. 

Sale go short at the lineout but knock on in the next phase and Saints will have the scrum. 

Moon is replaced by Nansen as we set the lineout, with the latter making his Saints debut to become Saint #2038 in the process. 

Sale manage to get a hand to the ball in the lineout but Francis gets on the ball as they chip over the top. Grayson clears to touch and Sale will have the lineout just outside Saints' 22. 

Aerial tennis ensues from the restart and eventually its Sale who find touch. Lineout Saints just inside their own half. 

Iyogun replaces Waller as we restart.

Wide off the tee from Grayson though and Sale will have the 22 drop out.

Penalty advantage coming for Saints just off the lineout and eventually we come back for it. Grayson points to the posts.

Sale somehow come away from the breakdown with the ball just off the lineout and MacGinty clears. Collins is there and he returns it but Sale's clearing kick heads straight out. Lineout Saints just outside Sale's 22. 

Another solid shove at the scrum from Saints but Sale manage to get the ball out this time and MacGinty clears to touch. Lineout Saints.

Changes for Saints as we set the scrum: Fish and Hill make way as Haywood and Painter enter the game.

But as the ball comes wide, it's lost forwards in the wet. Scrum Sale.

The ball pops out of the back os the scrum and James dives on it. Saints push up to the Sale five metre line now and keep coming.

Saints maul forwards again but Sale work through into the middle of this one and they will have the put in at the scrum. 

Penalty at the maul again for Saints and Grayson puts it back into the corner.

Penalty Saints at the maul too and Grayson puts it back into the corner. 

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

Ribbans is up for the lineout and Saints maul forwards but as it comes down the scrum goes Sale's way. 

Advantage coming for Saints from the scrum and eventually we come back for it. Grayson puts it into touch for a lineout inside Sale's 22. 

Saints come forwards off the lineout quickly and earn the put in at the scrum just inside Sale's half.

Saints chase the restart but Sale just manage to get a hand to it first. Warr clears to touch but Freeman takes the lineout quickly and boots it downfield. Hammersley is there and he and Grayson exchange kicks before Yarde sends the ball into touch. Lineout Saints on halfway.

Freeman claims the restart and Saints push forwards before James tries to dink over the top. The ball finds Sale hands though and they work into Saints' 22. 

MacGinty gets us restarted here!

Sale look to maul from the lineout but Saints' defence holds firm. Warr brings the ball out and Saints defend hard, eventually earning the penalty for their efforts. Saints go quickly and work into the 22 before earning another penalty. Grayson points to the posts with this one.

Scrappy at the lineout but Waller manages to keep Saints in possession. Saints push forwards but Sale get over the ball as Coles gets isolated. James sends the penalty to touch for a lineout just outside the Sale 22.

Penalty Saints at the breakdown as Sale fail to release in the tackle and Grayson sends it into the corner.

Saints work their way up to the Sale 22 and keep coming.

Freeman gathers the ball as Sale send the restart high. Saints push on halfway before James sends it high. Sale get there first and Warr sends it high himself. But the Sale scrum-half's kick heads straight out and Saints will have the lineout.

Penalty Sale at the breakdown as Saints fail to roll away. MacGinty points to the posts. 

Sale send the ball Saints' way off the back of the lineout but as Collins looks to return the swirling winds here at the AJ Bell carry the ball into touch. Lineotu Saints just inside Saints' half. 

Warr sends it high into touch off the back of the restart but the ball touched a Saints hand on its way there and Sale will have the lineout back near halfway.

Penalty Sale at the scrum this time though and James sends the ball to touch but it doesn't get there. Freeman collects and returns but Saints are pinged for obstruction as Sale return it. MacGinty points to the posts.

Saints look to come forwards off the lineout quickly but Francis just knocks on in contact. Scrum Sale.

Overthrow at the lineout from Sale but Saints knock the ball on. Sale regather and Warr boxes to touch. Lineout Saints.

Saints hold Sale's maul well this time and Waller charges down Warr's clearing kick. Saints push forwards before James sends the ball over the top to find touch in the corner. Lineout Sale there.

Coles disrupts the lineout but Sale manage to keep possession. They knock the ball on just after though and Grayson boots the ball into touch. Lineout Sale back near halfway.

A huge shove from Saints at the scrum and they earn the penalty there. Grayson sends it to touch but Sale get over the ball just off the lineout and James puts the ball back into touch for a Sale lineout on Saints' 22. 

Saints defend the maul well this time and Sale are forced to bring the ball out. They push forwards and think they're over but McGuigan knocks the ball on as he gets the ball over the whitewash. Scrum Saints.

Sale scramble forwards off the lineout but with another penalty coming, James sends it into the corner once more.

Advantage coming for Sale off the lineout and we come back for it eventually. MacGinty sends it to the corner.

Wide from Grayson off the tee and Sale turn the ball over off the restart, booting it downfield. Grayson is there to collect though and James sends it high into touch. Lineout Sale.

Penalty Saints from the restart as Moon gets over the ball. Grayson points to the posts.

Saints get over the ball at the breakdown but with a penalty advantage to Sale coming, we come back for it. James sends it into the corner for a Sale lineout there.

Sale regather the restart and push up to Saints' 22. 

Saints come forwards off the scrum quickly and earn a penalty at the breakdown too. Grayson points to the posts.

Free kick Sale at the lineout but MacGinty sends it straight out. Scrum Saints.

Saints maul forwards before James gets the ball out. But Sale get over the ball there, MacGinty sends it to touch for a lineout just outside Sale's 22.

Penalty Saints at the scrum and Grayson sends it into the corner. 

Grayson sends the ball high off the back of the lineout and Skosan is in chase. Sale just get there first but Warr boxes high but Sale knock on as it comes down. Scrum Saints.

McGinty returns the kick-off and finds touch. Saints will have the first lineout of the game on halfway.