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Sale continued their incredible home form with a 38-10 bonus-point win against London Irish
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Tries from Brian Mujati and TJ Loane gave Sale a 12-10 lead at the break
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Further scores from Sam James, Nev Edwards (2) and Sam Tuitupou secured the comfortable bonus-point win for the hosts
Sale continued their upwardly change in fortunes by powering past London Irish to a bonus-point win at the AJ Bell Stadium on Saturday.
Josh Beaumont, who was omitted from Eddie Jones England squad to play today, particularly shone in the back-row with a number of significant drives, one of which created the space for the hosts second score.
The Sharks, who have only been beaten once at the AJ Bell Stadium in the last 12 months, had fell behind early on to a Shane Geraghty penalty but got themselves together and built up a 12-3 lead compliments of scores from Brian Mujati and TJ Loane with Danny Cipriani adding one conversion.
London Irish though made it a two-point game heading into half-time as the referee awarded a penalty try following numerous transgressions by Sale’s pack with Geraghty adding extras.
Sale though were back in charge early in the second half as Sam James crashed over three minutes after the restart before speedster Nev Edwards,who this time last year was playing rugby semi-professionally, dotted down a pair of scored to secure the bonus point and the win just before the hour.
Sam Tuitupou then put the final nail in the coffin as Steve Diamond’s side celebrated the comfortable win while the Exiles head back to the Capital empty handed.
MATCH ACTION
London Irish, who are yet to win on the road in Premiership Rugby this season, made the brighter start to the game with Geraghty sending over a penalty after just three minutes.
The Exiles lead though was short lived as Sale soon after stirred themselves from their lethargy and were in front when powerhouse prop Mujati picked up close to the line and forced his way over for the games opening score. Cipriani couldn’t add the extras as a blustering wind blew his attempt off course, 5-3.
Try number two came for the hosts after 21 minutes with Loane finishing from short range following a comprehensive drive from Beaumont. Cipriani, this time, slotted the conversion to put Sale nine points in front.
London Irish responded but wasted opportunities as Geraghty missed an attempt at goal while Will Lloyd knocked on when he looked certain to score.
The visitors continued to apply pressure despite the disappointment of the disallowed try, and were rewarded moments before half time with a penalty try after a series of drives from the Exiles forward line. Geraghty added the extras, reducing the deficit to 12-10 at the break.
Sale though reestablished their lead three minutes after the restart as James dotted down the hosts third try. London Irish lost their own line-out and as a result, Sam Tuitupou broke before feeding the centre, who crossed from close range. Cipriani then added the extras to put the Sharks back in charge, 19-10.
The hosts then secured the bonus-point just before the hour as Loane’s offload is gathered by quick winger Edwards, who dived over for the score. Danny Cipriani’s successful conversion stretched the gap to 14 points, making it a long way back from there for the Exiles.
Edwards then grabbed his second and Sale’s fifth as he ran a great support line to collect following a good initial break from James to score. Cipriani, this time, couldn’t convert, but Sale but the gap was now 21 points with around a quarter of an hour remaining.
Things then went from bad to worse for London Irish, as centre Tuitupou to crash over to score following a powerful rolling maul from the hosts. Replacement Joe Ford added the extras.
With minutes remaining, London Irish thought they had scored a try, but the TMO ruled it out, and Irish were rewarded with a scrum rather than five points.
There were then chances for the hosts to score a seventh try, most noticeably through Ioane who touched on close to the try line, but in the end they had to be content with the 38-10 victory.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Sale: Sam James
Sale: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Will Addison, 13 Sam James, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Nev Edwards, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Peter Stringer, 8 Josh Beaumont 7 David Seymour (c), 6 TJ Ioane, 5 Andrei Ostrikov, 4 Bryn Evans, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Tommy Taylor, 1 Eifion Lewis-Roberts,
Replacements: 16 Neil Briggs, 17 Ross Harrison, 18 Vadim Cobilas, 19 Jonathan Mills, 20 Cameron Neild, 21 Chris Cusiter, 22 Joe Ford, 23 Tom Arscott.
Irish: 15 Sean Maitland, 14 Topsy Ojo, 13 Ciaran Hearn, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Aseli Tikoirotuma, 10 Shane Geraghty, 9 Brendan McKibbin, 8 Luke Narraway 7 Conor Gilsenan, 6 Ofisa Treviranus, 5 Will Lloyd, 4 Matt Symons (c), 3 Halani Aulika, 2 David Paice, 1 Tom Court,
Replacements: 16 Gerard Ellis, 17 Johnny Harris, 18 Leo Halavatau, 19 Jebb Sinclair, 20 Rob McCusker, 21 Scott Steele, 22 Theo Brophy Clews, 23 Andrew Fenby
Date: Saturday, January 30
Venue: AJ Bell Stadium
Kick-off: 14:30 GMT
Referee: Gregory Garner
Assistant Referees: Steve Lee, Gareth Copsey
TMO: Keith Lewis