Gloucester gave under-pressure coach Philippe Saint-Andre some breathing space
with a ruthless second half performance which sent Sale crashing to their first
defeat of the season.
Saint-Andre's fellow Frenchman Ludovic Mercier was the chief architect of the
Sharks' destruction courtesy of a clinical kicking display which saw him finish
the game with a 24-point haul.
The second half was a stark contrast to the first, which had finished all
square at 14-14 with no sign of the points charge that Gloucester were about to
launch after the break.
Sale enjoyed an equal share of the play before the interval, touching down
through Jason Robinson in reply to a Trevor Woodman try.
But the visitors pack took full control after half-time, stifling the Sharks
and forcing their opponents forward onto the back foot.
Dimitri Yachvili, Terry Famolua and Federico Pucciariello all ran in tries
with a solitary Jos Baxendell five-pointer the only reply from shell-shocked
Sale.
The strength of the visitors' pack began to tell as early as the seventh
minute following an exchange of penalties between Mercier and his opposite
number Charlie Hodgson.
Some crisp work at the line-out saw Gloucester's forwards steamroll their way
up the middle of the pitch.
The ball was released to Mercier who had set himself up for a drop goal but
his attempted kick sailed wide of the upright, although he was on target with a
second penalty moments later.
Sale launched a blistering counter-attack started by full-back Robinson and
quick hands from Hodgson saw centre Dan Harris charge upfield, before he
off-loaded to skipper Alex Sanderson.
But the referee deemed Sanderson had been hauled back illegally by Mercier and
awarded a penalty which Hodgson slotted over. Mercier was given 10 minutes in
the sin bin.
Gloucester struck back in the 20th minute when their forwards laid siege to
Sale's line and just as it appeared the Manchester outfit had done enough to
weather the storm, prop Woodman was bundled over with some help from his
team-mates.
The try seemed to galvanise Saint-Andre's men who went straight back on the
offensive, picking up another Mercier drop goal for their efforts.
But they could not maintain the pressure and by the 36th minute the Sharks had
pulled themselves level when Robinson capitalised on a superb Hodgson break to
touch down, with Hodgson adding another penalty - which saw Gloucester full back
Christian Stoica sin-binned - shortly after.
Mercier missed the chance to put his side ahead just seconds after the
interval but his penalty drifted wide, although he made amends in the 45th
minute with an easy three-pointer.
Gloucester continued to attack and they swept deep into the Sharks half
courtesy of some fine work from their pack.
Mercier pushed his ensuing drop goal wide, ending the move, but his side got a
second bite of the cherry when Sale winger Martin Shaw saw his pass intercepted
by scrum-half Yachvili who touched down under the posts for a simple converted
try.
Gloucester's lead was further increased by a Mercier drop goal before the
Sharks finally launched an attack of their own, but Robinson and hooker Andy
Pitterall were snuffed out by some watertight defence.
The boot of Mercier continued to put daylight between the two sides as he
struck a third drop goal in the 66th minute.
And Sale's woes continued when centre Famolua bundled over from close range
after a neat pass from winger Josh Frape.
With three minutes to go, Baxendell grabbed his late try before Gloucester
restored their hefty points cushion through a Pucciariello touchdown, a score
Mercier inevitably converted in the last kick of the game.
Teams:
Sale: Yates, Titterrell, Turner, Fullarton, Lines, Pinkerton,
A. Sanderson, Anglesea, Anglesea, Bramhall, Hodgson, Hanley,
Harris, Shaw, Davidson, Robinson, Perelini.
Replacements: Black for Yates (73),
Jackman for Titterrell (72), Giacheri for Lines (53),
Perelini for Anglesea (18), Perelini for Anglesea (66),
Baxendell for Shaw (66), Going for Davidson (66),
Anglesea for Perelini (25).
Not Used: Dickens.
Tries: Robinson, Baxendell.
Cons: Hodgson.
Pens: Hodgson 3.
Gloucester: Woodman, Azam, Collazo, Fidler, Pearce, Boer,
Eustace, Paramore, Yachvili, Mercier, Simpson-Daniel, Fanolua,
Ewens, O'Leary, Stoica.
Replacements: Fortey for Azam (44),
Pucciarello for Collazo (61), Cornwell for Pearce (52),
Forrester for Paramore (71), Gomarsall for Yachvili (72),
Frape for Simpson-Daniel (40), Simpson-Daniel for Stoica (80).
Not Used: Mannix.
Sin Bin: Mercier (11), Stoica (36).
Tries: Woodman, Yachvili, Fanolua, Pucciarello.
Cons: Mercier 3.
Pens: Mercier 3.
Drop Goals: Mercier 3.
Att: 4,562
Ref: Ashley Rowden (RFU).
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