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Greig Laidlaw slotted four penalties as Gloucester ended Sale’s season-long unbeaten home run
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Danny Cipriani and Greig Laidlaw exchanged two penalties as the sides went into the break level, 6-6
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Sharks Johnny Leota scored the game’s only try but two further Laidlaw penalties gave Gloucester the win
Sale’s hopes of ending the Premiership season unbeaten at home are over, as are their slim chances of a top-four place. Defeat has also brought Champions Cup qualification into question.
Gloucester skipper Greig Laidlaw was their hero, kicking all 12 points to keep his side in with a shout – albeit a slight one – of finishing in the top six.
The first half saw the sides kick two penalties a piece through Danny Cipriani and Laidlaw respectively.
In the second half, Sale scored the only try of the game through hooker Trevor Leota. But, two penalties for the Gloucester skipper was enough to secure the win for the Cherry and Whites.
The win means Gloucester join Montpellier as the only other side to come away from the A J Bell Stadium with a win this season. The defeat for Sale almost certainly ends their Champions Cup ambitions with Leicester hosting Worcester tomorrow at Welford Road.
Meanwhile, the loss for the Sharks almost certainly ends their Champions Cup ambitions with Leicester hosting Worcester tomorrow at Welford Road.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Gloucester: Greig Laidlaw
Sale: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Will Addison, 13 Sam James, 12 Johnny Leota, 11 Nev Edwards, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Peter Stringer, 8 TJ Ioane, 7 David Seymour (c), 6 Cameron Neild, 5 Andrei Ostrikov, 4 Bryn Evans, 3 Vadim Cobilas, 2 Tommy Taylor, 1 Ross Harrison
Replacements: 16 Neil Briggs, 17 Eifion Lewis-Roberts, 18 Brian Mujati, 19 Jonathan Mills, 20 Mark Easter, 21 James Mitchell, 22 Joe Ford, 23 Mark Jennings
Gloucester: 15 Tom Marshall, 14 Rob Cook, 13 Henry Trinder, 12 Billy Twelvetrees, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Greig Laidlaw (c), 9 Willi Heinz, 8 Sione Kalamafoni, 7 Matt Kvesic, 6 Ross Moriarty, 5 Jeremy Thrush, 4 Tom Savage, 3 Paul Doran-Jones, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Yann Thomas
Replacements: 16 Luke Cole, 17 Nick Wood, 18 John Afoa, 19 Ben Morgan, 20 Gareth Evans, 21 Callum Braley, 22 Mark Atkinson, 23 Lewis Ludlow
Date: Friday, April 29
Venue: AJ Bell Stadium
Kick-off: 19:45 BST (18:45 GMT)
Referee: Thomas Foley
Assistant Referees: Ross Campbell, Simon McConnell
TMO: Stuart Terheege