Sale Sharks still alive with bonus-point defeat at London Wasps

Sale secured a last gasp losing bonus-point against London Wasps to keep their hopes of avoiding relegation alive this afternoon.
While Wasps had the game in the bag leading 25-11 and the clock turning red, one last rally from the Sharks saw Johnny Leota cross the line and set up a crucial conversion for Rob Miller.
Despite a poor day with the boot, the full-back stepped up for a 25-18 defeat.
The Sharks will still spend Christmas deeply rooted at the bottom of the table but this bonus point means they are now only five points adrift of London Irish.
After last week thumping in Toulon, the Sharks went back to basics and proved they could be a good enough side to get their heads out of the water if they keep playing with the urgency and character they showed today.
But poor execution at times cost them dearly and they will have to fight hard for the next five month to avoid turning the “Great Northern Club” into a Championship side.
On the other hand, Wasps are still unbeaten at home and firmly remain in the race for a Top 6 finish.
They controlled the game well with the boots of Joe Simpson, Stephen Jones and Hugo Southwell while the industrious work rate of the forwards, especially Billy Vunipola who was everywhere today, both in attack and defence put too much pressure for Sale to handle.
The home side had the better start and went 6-3 in front after two penalties from Jones while Nick Macleod was successful for Sale.
But despite their good start, it was Sale that crossed the line first after 25 minutes to take an 8-6 lead.
Following a delayed pass from Macleod, Sam Tuitupou broke clear only to be halted yards away from the line. The support was there though and, as the ball went wide on the next phase, No.8 Richie Vernon dived over.
Wasps were rewarded for their first half domination ten minutes later though when Elliot Daly kicked a long range penalty to see the Men in Black lead 9-8 at the break.
Jones and Miller exchanged a penalty each early before Vunipola turned the game upside down with one of his trademark barnstorming run.
The No.8 picked up the ball at the back a scrum inside his own half and left left Mark Cueto for dead only to be tackled by Mark Jennings with the try-line begging.
But two phases later hooker T Rhys Thomas barged his way over to turn a narrow lead into a considerable one after Jones conversion.
Sale threw everything at Wasps to get back into the game but they couldn’t break the line until the last play of the game and had to suffer their  tenth defeat of the season.
For London Wasps
Tries: Thomas
Conversions: Jones
Penalties: Jones 4, Daly, Robinson
For Sale Sharks
Tries: Vernon, Leota
Conversions: Miller
Penalties: Macleod, Miller
London Wasps: Southwell (capt.); Daly, Masi, Bell, Wade; Jones, Simpson; Taulafo, Thomas, Swainston, Launchbury, Wentzel; Johnson, Haskell, Vunipola.
Replacements: Lindsay, Payne, Taylor, Cannon, Poff, Davies, Robinson, Mayor.
Sale: Miller; Jennings, Leota, Tuitupou, Cueto; Macleod, Cliff; Harrison, Jones, Lewis-Roberts; Gray, Myall; Gaskell, Seymour (capt.), Vernon.
Replacements: Croall, Cobilas, Buckley,  McKenzie, Powell, Willis, Uys, Brady.
Referee: JP Doyle
Star man: Billy Vunipola – London Wasps
NICK VERDIER
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