"Tonight was disappointing," he told SaintsTV. "We started the 'A' League well and we actually started quite well tonight, but we coughed up possession a little too easily and didn't turn our territory and possession into points. All credit to Sale, they were immensely physical tonight and I think that's what won them the game.
"We've got a young squad out there and we perhaps need to learn the lesson of taking our points and building a score. These lads are extremely competitive and they've now got a few weeks to stew on their performance tonight before a winner takes all with Gloucester for that home semi-final."
SALE WANDERERS: AS IT HAPPENED
KO
Sam Olver gets this Aviva 'A' League clash underway….
SALE 0 WAND 0
9mins
After a scrappy line out 5m from the Sale line, the Wanderers get another go at the scrum and having shoved the Jets back a couple of times, Day scoops up and forces his way over on the left.
SALE 0 WAND 5
11mins
Sale get their first chance to attack but with the Wanderers defence proving hard to penetrate, Johnson sits back and drops three points to get the hosts on the board.
SALE 3 WAND 5
12mins
Smart play to take the points as the Jets recover the restart and then nick back a high bomb, too. Jennings canters under the posts in support and Fowles converts.
SALE 10 WAND 5
20mins
The Wandies are looking dangerous with ball in hand but not quite as clinical as in recent weeks. They've got the hosts pinned in though and are looking to cancel out the deficit as the quarter passes.
SALE 10 WAND 5
29mins
The scrum is never a bad way to assert your dominance and with the Wanderers well on top, a penalty try comes under the posts. No try for van Velze yet after his hat-trick last week, so the number 8 decides to scoop the ball from the base and drop goal the conversion instead!
SALE 10 WAND 12
33mins
Oddly enough the next scrum goes in Sale's favour and from 45m on the angle, Fowles restores his side's lead.
SALE 13 WAND 12
35mins
Fowles clearly in kick-mode tonight and another penalty chance from way out, this time as the Wanderers hold on, is thumped between the uprights by the Jets scrum-half.
SALE 16 WAND 12
39mins
Having monopolised possession for the 15 or 20 minutes leading up to the penalty try, the Wanderers are now well and truly under the cosh and having broken a tackle, Jennings batters his way over for his second of the evening. Fowles continues his good run with the boot as well.
SALE 23 WAND 12
HT
The conversion time takes us through to the break of a so far even game, but one in which Sale have certainly made the most of their time with the ball. The Wanderers on the other hand will be pretty frustrated with their chance conversion ratio, but this game is far from beyond them.
SALE 23 WAND 12
44mins
Worst possible start to the second half for the Wanderers. Sale hit it up and edge forward before the lively Fowles carves open a gap and flies over. No conversion this time but a big boost for the hosts.
SALE 28 WAND 12
52mins
Huge break from Waller as a Sale line out is pinched and with the home defenders then cynically killing the move, Sanders sees yellow. The chance of 10mins at 14 men is one the Wanderers simply can't waste at this time in the game.
SALE 28 WAND 12
54mins
And they waste no time chipping into the lead, grinding out another penalty try against a helpless Sale pack with Olver adding the extras this time from the tee.
SALE 28 WAND 19
65mins
The comeback looked on, but it's that man Fowles who is the thorn in the Wandies' side again. Having cut the line to go within 5m, the 9 then scoops up from the base and burrows over. Johnson's conversion hits the post so it's still just a two score lead.
SALE 33 WAND 19
72mins
Just eight minutes left for the Wanderers to rescue anything from this one. Johnson has the chance to kill it off with a penalty but strays wide of the mark.
SALE 33 WAND 19
79mins
With the Wanderers chasing the game, Sale counter and a flowing, offloading move ends in Haley emphatically putting this game to bed. Johnson converts for good measure.
SALE 40 WAND 19
FT
Defeat not what the Wanderers will have wanted with a home semi up for grabs, but Newcastle's heavy loss at Gloucester means they remain top. It also means a showdown with the Cherry and Whites for top spot in the Northern Conference though, in three weeks' time at Franklin's Gardens.
SALE 40 WAND 19
TIMELINE
9mins WAND Try Day 0-5
11mins SALE DG Johnson 3-5
12mins SALE Try Jennings Con Fowles 10-5
29mins WAND Try Penalty Con van Velze 10-12
33mins SALE Pen Fowles 13-12
35mins SALE Pen Fowles 16-12
HALF-TIME SALE 23 WAND 12
44mins SALE Try Fowles 28-12
52mins SALE Yellow Sanders
54mins WAND Try Penalty Con Olver 28-19
65mins SALE Try Fowles 33-19
79mins SALE Try Haley Con Johnson 40-19
FULL-TIME SALE 40 WAND 19
SALE - Haley; Ingall, Jennings, Bedlow, Jeffers; Johnson, Fowles; Flynn, Neild, Buckley, Holmes, Sanders, Gledhill, Craven, Hughes
Reps - Hymes, Parker, Longmore, Nott, Bishop, Mitchell, Hayes, O'Donnell
WAND - Diggin; Collins, Stephenson, Waldouck, Packman; Olver, A Day; E Waller, McMillan, Ma'afu, Woolford, Verbakel, Nutley, Harrison, van Velze
Reps - Williams, Warren, Parkins, Onojaife, Harry, Glynn, Hooley, Artemyev
Referee: Andrew Jackson
