Match Report: Sale Sharks 26-31 Bath Rugby
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Bath Rugby produced a superb second-half comeback to defeat Sale Sharks 31–26 at the CorpAcq Stadium, overturning a 19–7 half-time deficit to claim an important Gallagher PREM win.
The Blue, Black and White made the first move and opened the scoring through Dan Frost, who powered over from close range after sustained early pressure.
However, Sale responded strongly and took control of the remainder of the first half through fast passes and controlled kicking game from George Ford.
Marred by two yellow cards in the first instalment, tries from Tom O’Flaherty, Rob du Preez, and Luke Cowan-Dickie helped Sale establish a 19–7 lead at the interval.
Emerging from the break with a fresh intensity, the tempo of the second 40 soon stepped up a notch.
A well-worked line-out move ended with birthday boy Louie Hennessey crossing for Bath’s second try.
This was followed by Ethan Staddon finishing sharply out wide soon after. Santi Carreras added the conversion to bring the scores level at 19–19.
Briefly regaining the advantage as the clock entered the final quarter, England's Tom Roebuck got the spoils after a spell of repeated pressure inside the Bath 22.
A key moment followed for Bath, seeing young Kepu Tuipulotu on the receiving end of a line-out steal by Ewan Richards.
The hooker darted and dashed his way through the Sale defenders getting boot to ball to find space in the back field.
Fortunate with the bounce, Bernard van der Linde scooped up a sure five-pointer after running in unmanned, with Carreras adding the two from the tee to level the scores once more.
Building pressure with the clock entering the closing stages of the game, Bath's bench was emptied onto the field, giving Alfie Barbeary his chance to force himself over from close range, sitting the visitors five points ahead.
Withstanding the Sale pressure as they encroached on the Bath line, the ball was turned and the Blue, Black and White ticked the clock down to send the ball into the stands and take away the full five points.
TEAMS
Sale Sharks: 1 Bevan Rodd, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 James Harper, 4 Ernst van Rhyn (c), 5 Ben Bamber, 6 Sam Dugdale, 7 Nathan Jibulu, 8 Jacques Vermeulen, 9 Raffi Quirke, 10 George Ford, 11 Arron Reed, 12 Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 13 Rob du Preez, 14 Tom Roebuck, 15 Joe Carpenter
Replacements: 16 Ethan Caine, 17 Ralph McEachran, 18 Tye Raymont, 19 Dan du Preez, 20 Jos Gilmore, 21 Gus Warr, 22 Marius Louw, 23 Tom O’Flaherty
Bath Rugby: 1 Scott Kirk, 2 Dan Frost, 3 Vilikesa Sela, 4 Will Jeanes, 5 Ross Molony, 6 Ted Hill, 7 Ethan Staddon, 8 Miles Reid (c), 9 Tom Carr-Smith, 10 Santi Carreras 11 Will Muir, 12 Cameron Redpath, 13 Louie Hennessey, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 15 Tom de Glanville
Replacements: 16 Kepu Tuipulotu, 17 Beno Obano, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Charlie Ewels, 20 Ewan Richards, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Chris Harris, 23 Alfie Barbeary
