Sale Sharks got back to winning ways on a wet, blustery night in Salford beating a sorry Gloucester 24-10
Alex Sanderson’s men were determined to get back on track after last Saturday’s thumping down in Exeter. The bonus point victory sees them head back to the top of the Premiership standings.
Two tries for Aaron Reed and one a piece for Ben Curry and debutant Agustin Creevy gave them all five points as they showed exactly why they made the final last year.
After an early kicking battle, it was George Barton who gave Gloucester the lead through a well struck penalty. Just three minutes later the Sharks replied after winning a penalty at a scrum. George Ford went to the corner and after a brilliant line out and attritional carries Sale used their backs for the first time and the wingers combined. Tom Roebuck threw a delightful miss pass over the top and Reed slid into the corner for the first score.
The Sharks continued to apply pressure on the Cherry and Whites with an outstanding kicking game but Ford was off his usual best, missing three kicks at goal leaving eight points at home. Gloucester had their opportunities but some sloppy play let Sale of the hook.
A moment of madness helped Sale extend their lead. Ford put up a hopeful up and under only for Garton to misread the flight of the ball with it bouncing straight off his face and into the hands of Gus Warr who set the speedy Reed away once more for his second of the evening. That sent Sale into the half 12-3 ahead.
The Sharks came out applying pressure once more and, pinning Gloucester into their own 22, Jonny Hill stole the line out. Sale went to work with the forwards and Ben Curry marked his return after five months out with a well worked finish after being on the pitch for just one minute.
Ford continued to have a difficult night from the tee missing the extras once more.
The Cherry and Whites came agonisingly close to their first score of the evening when Chris Harris gave Alex Hearle the ball in space but Warr did outstandingly well as he held Hearle up over the line sparing Sale’s blushes.
Sale found their bonus point try with 10 minutes to play as debutant Creevy went over off the back of a well worked driving maul.
Gloucester had something to celebrate late on after a deflected kick landed in the hands of Mark Atkinson deep into Sale territory who combined with Santi Socino to put Freddie Thomas in under the posts. It was scant consolation on a night to forget for the visitors.
Both sides are in Premiership action next week. Gloucester take on Bath at Kingsholm on Friday night while the Sharks head to Bristol on Saturday lunchtime.
