It was 2017 when Northampton Saints had last tasted league success at Sale Sharks, when an over-time Ethan Waller score secured them an all-important bonus point in a 32-12 win.
Some nine years later, the only face that remains from that victorious side in Saints’ set-up is coach James Craig. The former lock, turned forwards coach, helped to lead Northampton’s post-match celebrations nine seasons on as Saints brought their losing streak in Salford to a close with a 43-29 victory.
Early scores from Tommy Freeman and Rory Hutchinson had put Saints 14-0 up at the CorpAcq Stadium, but the game soon became a back-and-forth contest that saw Sale lead by three points at the start of the final quarter.
A trio of Saints scores – including two signature efforts from back rowers Josh Kemeny and Henry Pollock – swung the momentum back in favour of the away side and sealed their place at the top of the Gallagher PREM after ten rounds.
And for Northampton Director of Rugby Phil Dowson – who himself left Salford victorious just four times through his Saints career – the wait for a win at a place like Sale, where away results are notoriously hard to come by, made it all the sweeter.
“There were a few different generations of players who would have liked to have won there,” Dowson said.
“George Ford’s kicking was outstanding, and it was a proper game so we’re delighted to come through it.
“It’s what you expect every time you come here and why they’ve got such a good home record because they’ve got such good quality players so we knew the challenge ahead of us.”
The win kicked off the second half of the PREM season and marked Saints’ sixth victory on the road in all competitions this term, a number which already eclipses their five away wins from last season.
Dowson and his Saints side have put an extra focus on securing more results away from cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens this term, and after claiming PREM wins on the road at Gloucester Rugby, Newcastle Red Bulls and Bath Rugby already, Northampton's Director of Rugby was delighted to add a fourth away scalp to that tally in Sale.
He said: “This group had the bit between their teeth since Monday, and I actually mentioned it last week that this was a big scalp and we wanted to get after it.
“The best way to be successful is to win the next game, and we want to try to do that as much as we possibly can. This was the next one.
“It’s not been a happy hunting ground for us but that makes it all the more special now.”
It was again Northampton’s set-piece dominance that created the platform for many of their seven scores, and it was two of Saints’ props who earned particular praise from their Director of Rugby.
Dowson said: “I thought Trevor Davison and Manny Iyogun were outstanding and they’re both off to England camp on the back of that, which I’m delighted about.
“We actually created loads of pressure in the lineout and that gave us a foothold in the game because it's something Sale pride themselves on.”
The front row pair make up two of some 18 Saints heading into international camps ahead of the Guinness Six Nations, with the Club well-represented across Scotland, Italy and both England’s senior and Under-20s setups.
“It’s recognition of their ability, all their hard work,” said Dowson of his international contingent.
“To have that many players involved, across senior and Under-20s levels, speaks volumes about the coaching group at the Club and the players, about how hard they're working to get better.”
But for Dowson and Saints, there is still rugby to be played in the coming weeks as the PREM Rugby Cup makes its return.
Leicester Tigers provide Northampton’s first opposition when they head to cinch Stadium on Saturday (31 January, kick-off: 3.05pm) and Dowson is looking forward to giving some of Saints’ younger players over the next few weeks.
“Some players will be rested,” he said. “We’ll be giving an opportunity to a different group of players in the PRC, to see how hard we can push that next generation coming through.”