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Wanderers 39-7 Sale Jets: Sleightholme hat trick seals Christmas win for Wandies

Northampton Wanderers secured their second bonus point victory in as many weeks as they saw off Sale Jets in the final Premiership Rugby Shield fixture of 2018. 

Tries from James Fish, Matt Worley, Will Davis and Ollie Sleightholme had earned the side the try bonus point before the half-hour marks was up, and Worley had claimed his brace before the referee blew for half-time.

And though Sale sent Cameron Redpath over in response, a further two scores from Sleightholme completed the wing's hat trick and sealed the Christmas victory for Wanderers to see them rise into second place in the Premiership Rugby Shield Northern Conference.

The home side wasted no time getting on the scoresheet, working their way up the pitch before sending a driving maul over the line in the second minute - Fish the man at the base for the score. 

Wanderers were immediately back on the attack, after James Grayson sent the conversion just to the left of the sticks, with quick hands getting them up to the Sale 22 before a gap opened out wide. From that distance Worley did not need asking twice and the wing slid over for his first of two for the afternoon with just six minutes on the clock. 

Though Grayson pulled his second conversion just shy of the mark, Wanderers did no err from their course and as Hutchinson broke into Sale's 22 off the back of a lineout, it was a simple job for Mitch Eadie to get the play back up to the try line once more. Wanderers pushed on and seconds later Davis was over for the home side's third, with Grayson's extras taking Wanderers 17 unanswered points clear.

And Wanderers were to make it to 24 unanswered points before the half-hour mark was up. Earning a lineout - as Sale were forced to clear their lines - Wanderers' skipper Charlie Davies rounded the back of the lineout into space and set Sleightholme free to score his first of three under the posts.

It was then, though, that Sale responded and Redpath broke through the home defence, darting under the posts to score before converting his own try to score his side's only points. 

But Wanderers weren't done with the first half and after working their way back into Sale's 22, sent the ball wide to a waiting Worley for his second of the afternoon. 

After the break, Wanderers waited just four minutes before getting back on the scoreboard. Earning a lineout close to Sale's line, the men in Black, Green and Gold mauled themselves close before Grayson hurled the ball wide for the Sleightholme to finish in the corner.

And the 18-year-old would claim his hat trick before the game was through as a cross field kick from Grayson sat perfectly for the wing, sending the final score to 39-7 and see Wanderers climb to second in the Premiership Rugby A League Northern Conference.

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