Match Report: Sale Sharks 29 – 22 Northampton Saints

Northampton Saints began the new Gallagher Premiership season with a narrow defeat away at Sale Sharks, after a second-half comeback which saw Phil Dowson’s side rescue a losing bonus point.

The men in Black, Green and Gold trailed 10-3 at the break after an error-strewn first half from both sides; James Grayson and Rob du Preez exchanged penalties while Gus Warr crossed for a Sale try.

Sale then produced a ten-minute blitz before the hour mark to cross three times and stretch 29-3 clear – but Northampton did not lie down and produced three tries of their own inside the last 20 minutes, with Tom Collins scoring twice and Ollie Sleightholme also dotting down to ensure the visitors did not leave Salford empty-handed.

FIRST HALF

Following an impeccably-observed minute’s silence in remembrance of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Saints burst out of the traps as new signing Lukhan Salakaia-Loto planted a huge hit on Ben Curry before Matt Proctor’s scintillating 50-metre break took the visitors into the 22.

Sharks were then penalised for a tackle off the ball, and Grayson kicked Northampton’s first points of the new season from the tee to make it 3-0.

However, the hosts then took the lead after 14 minutes as Dan du Preez burst through a gap and found Gus Warr outside him, with the scrum-half finishing to the left of the posts and Rob du Preez converting.

In the 18th minute, Saints put an excellent attacking set together and Courtnall Skosan looked to be over left of the posts, but the visitors were pulled back for a forward pass in the build-up.

Mitchell then broke clear of a tackle and surged from halfway into the 22, but he was tackled by the last defender and as the ball was recycled left, Skosan was knocked into touch in the corner as he looked to find the try line again.

The Northampton wing then saw yellow as he made contact with Tom Roebuck chasing his own kick, but Saints negotiated the sin-bin period well and escaped with only a penalty (kicked by du Preez after a scrum infringement) against them.

It could have been worse had Ollie Sleightholme not made a try-saving tackle on Luke James after Sharks had made a length-of-the-field break, with Manu Tuilagi and Roebuck making ground down the right, but Sleightholme forced a knock-on to keep his side 10-3 behind heading into the break.

SECOND HALF

Dowson began to ring the changes as both sides produced some scrappy play after the break, introducing Sam Matavesi and Sam Graham having already brought Emmanuel Iyogun into the action before the interval.

But on 53 minutes, Saints were caught playing too deep in their own territory and conceded a five-metre scrum – and Sale took full advantage as Northampton committed bodies to defence under the posts, flinging it wide for Luke James to score with du Preez adding the extras.

Alfie Petch and George Furbank also came off the bench but there was nothing they could do to help Saints stop the Sharks scoring again four minutes later as Sam James and Roebuck combined down the blind side to send the former over the whitewash.

Sale’s blitz was complete on the hour mark as Luke James’ inch-perfect grubber-kick allowed Tom O’Flaherty to score, but despite the 29-3 scoreline, Saints dug in their heels and fought their way back into the game.

First, Furbank’s pass put Juarno Augustus into space in the 65th minute, before Collins wriggled through a couple of tackles to score in the corner.

Then, four minutes later, the England fullback carved his way through a gap after Petch made a burst up the middle, and found Sleightholme on his shoulder with a perfectly-timed pass to allow the wing to finish in the corner.

Grayson nailed both conversions from the touchline and it was game-on at 29-17 with ten minutes to play, but it took Saints until the final play to cross the whitewash again.

Iyogun won the penalty, and his quick-tap put Sale on the back foot before Furbank whipped the ball wide for Collins to score an important bonus-point securing try.