Sale stretch gap in second with superb wet weather win

Harlequins…………….16

Tries: Marchant 42, David 74

Penalties: Allan 5, 31

Sale Sharks……………24

Tries: O’Flaherty 18, Du Preez 24, van der Merwe 53, Wiese 63

Conversions: Du Preez 19, 26

Sale Sharks put clear blue water between themselves as third-placed Harlequins with a hard-fought but dominant win at the Stoop.

Sale produced the better rugby in the first half, and deservedly led at the break as Tom O’Flaherty and Rob Du Preez’s tries, and two conversions from Du Preez, gave them a half-time lead.

Tommy Allan’s penalties either side of the tries kept Quins in the contest, and Joe Marchant scored just 67 seconds into the second half cut the gap to three.

But tries from Akker van der Merwe and Cobus Wiese secured a four-try bonus point win, and though Quins hit back late on through a sharp Nick David finish, Will Edwards’ wayward conversion cost Quins a losing bonus point of their own.

Sale boss Alex Sanderson said: “On the back of a good performance last week, I’m really happy with how we’ve managed to back it up.

“With the conditions to score four tries, and with one or two going begging out there, was really good.

“I’m really happy with the set piece dominant, kicking game and discipline. It would have been a bit harem scarem at the end if they had got the conversion, with Quins known for snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, but we managed to hold on and I’m pleased with the resilience of the boys.”

Sale master first half conditions

Perhaps because they are more used to playing in the rain, and the fact that their gameplan does not need changes on the scale that Harlequins’ does in wet conditions, Sale managed the contest much better than the hosts in the first period.

Quins started brightly and looked more threatening when they knocked over their first penalty through Allan after less than five minutes, but Sale wrestled their way back into the contest shortly after.

Their first try, however, was far from a wrestle, with a lovely backs move from the edge of the 22 finishing in the hands of O’Flaherty in acres of space, who aquaplaned across a huge puddle as he slid over the try line.

Another excellent move originating from the same place saw Tuilagi go close, and though Quins turned over, the impressive Ben Curry immediately won the ball back before Sam James dabbed through to provide Du Preez with the chance to dot down.

His conversion took the lead to 11, and though Allen knocked over a penalty on the half hour Sale had the better of the kicking battle that ensued in the last ten minutes of the first half and were good value for their lead at the break.

Quins show fight but visitors too good

When Quins visited Sale earlier in the campaign, the Sharks could have no complaints about being on the losing end, and Quins will feel the same after losing on this occasion.

Marchant’s try gave Quins plenty of hope, but back to back penalties from the edge of their 22 allowed Sale to get a maul five metres out, and though Quins had resisted mauls from further out earlier in the contest they could not stop Van der Merwe crashing over.

Though Du Preez missed the conversion, and would miss another as Cobus Wiese found his way over ten minutes later, the 13-point gap, much like the 12-point gap that now exists between the two sides in the table, seemed too much to breach.

David’s try, coming after Danny Care made an excellent break upfield, gave Quins a slither of hope with the game in its dying embers, but Edwards’ kick was horribly wide and Sale got home with room to spare in the end.

Harlequins: David 7, Murley 5, Marchant 7, Esterhuizen 5, Bassett 6 (Beard 60, 5), Allan 5 (Edwards 55, 4), Care 6; Baxter 6 (Els 60, 6), Walker 7 (Musk 66, 5), Louw 6 (Kerrod 53, 5), Hammond 6 (Matthews 68, 6), Herbst 5, White 6 (Lawday 53, 6), Wallace 7, Dombrandt (c) 8

Sale: L James 5 (Carpenter 53, 7), Reed 6, S James 7, Tuilagi 7, O’Flaherty 8, R Du Preez 8, Warr 7, McIntyre 7 (Rodd 53, 6), Van Der Merwe 7 (Ashman 60, 7), Schonert 7, Wiese 8, Hill 8, T Curry 6 (Ross 15, 6), B Curry (c) 7, J-L Du Preez 5 (Beaumont 68, 5)

Not used: Thomas, Curtis

Referee: Wayne Barnes

Star Man: Rob Du Preez (Sale Sharks)

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