Jonny Wilkinson failed to appear for the second-half as Sale answered their
many critics in the best possible way as they romped to an emphatic win over
Newcastle.
In the week Rob Andrew said that if his side lost to Sale having beaten
Leicester last week it would be like the England football team losing to Albania
after their win over Germany.
But the former England fly-half was made to eat his words at Heywood Road.
Newcastle didn't get off to the best of starts with the late arrival of Pat
Lam and Va'aiga Tuigamala, who were caught up in traffic and who arrived at the
ground just minutes before the team had to be named.
Jonny Wilkinson kicked the Falcons into a three-point lead and they looked in
control until Charlie Hodgson levelled the scores on 10 minutes.
Sale than blazed ahead with a try and conversion from Hodgson and a try out
wide for winger Steve Hanley after some powerful running from the Sale backs.
Hodgson added another penalty as Sale recovered from their slow start to
finish the first half the much stronger side.
There's no stopping Jason Robinson these days and he tunnelled his way through
a pile of players to score Sale's third try on 50 minutes.
Sale's fourth came thanks to a terrific forward drive with new signing Stuart
Pinkerton taking the ball on and Pete Anglesea grounding.
Newcastle hit back with a try from Hugh Vyvyan and after several minutes of
intense pressure it took another dazzling run from Robinson to clear Sale's
line.
Sale rounded off an impressive display with a try from Adam Black just seconds
after coming on as a replacement and stand-in kicker Jos Baxendell landed the
conversation from the touch line.
Written off by many Sale have now notched up two bonus points in their opening
games and are certainly not a team to be taken lightly as Newcastle found to
their cost.
Teams:
Sale: Yates, Titterrell, Turner, Fullarton,
Lines, Perelini,
Pinkerton, Anglesea, Redpath, Hodgson, Hanley, Harris, Shaw,
Cueto, Robinson.
Replacements: Black for Turner (74), Perelini for Lines (64),
A. Sanderson for Perelini (40), Wilks for Pinkerton (77),
Bramhall for Redpath (76), Baxendell for Hodgson (72),
Going for Hanley (78).
Not Used: Jackman.
Newcastle: Ward, Howe, Isaacson, Vyvyan,
Weir, Dunbar,
Devonshire, Lam, Armstrong, Wilkinson, Tuigamala, May, Noon,
Botham, Walder, MacLure, Arnold.
Replacements: Peel for Isaacson (52), Grimes for Weir (56),
Arnold for Dunbar (4), D. Richardson for Wilkinson (46),
MacLure for Botham (33), Botham for MacLure (35),
Dunbar for Arnold (26).
Not Used: S. Richardson, Balshen.
Att: 4,800
Ref: Dave Pearson (RFU).
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