Bath full-back Matt Perry snatched a first win of the season in the Zurich
Premiership with a left-foot drop-goal in the very last second.
Perry, who had scored all of Bath's points including a 27th-minute try, was
instantly mobbed by his team-mates as Irish referee David McHugh signalled the
end of the game almost as the ball fell between the posts.
Up until that moment it looked as if Sale themselves had grabbed the draw with
a 79th-minute try by right-wing Mark Cueto.
A sharp break on the right had exposed a shaky-looking Bath defence and Cueto
stepped off his right foot to touch down behind the posts for his second try and
his fourth in five games.
Bath versus Sale fixtures have a tradition of exciting finishes and close
scorelines - but for drama this one beat the lot.
Sale came to the Recreation Ground riding high in second place in the table
while the home side languished at the bottom after four successive league
defeats, also having to cope with the loss of flanker Gavin Thomas and
scrum-half Gareth Cooper to the Wales' squad and Kevin Maggs to the Ireland
team.
However, Perry got his side off to an encouraging start with two penalties in
the first 10 minutes.
The second also saw former Bath prop Kevin Yates sent to the sin-bin for a
high tackle on Mike Catt, showing there was no sentiment attached to his return
to the Recreation Ground.
Perry made it 9-0 on 23 minutes and just a few minutes later finished off in
the corner after his forwards had stolen the line-out and provided a chance for
centre Mike Tindall to burst through the defence, laying on the scoring pass.
All too predictably for Bath this season, they let their guard slip and Cueto
finished off a beautifully-worked move inspired by the experienced Jos
Baxendale.
Fly-half Charlie Hodgson converted from wide out and also added a penalty just
before the break to leave the Cheshire side just four points behind having spent
most of the first half on the defensive.
Perry chipped over a fourth penalty in the 50th minute, but much of the rest
of the game was dominated by Sale with Baxendale looking particularly
dangerous.
On the hour he collected a chip on the right and sped down the touchline
eluding Perry but, fortunately for Bath, not Iain Balshaw who took him into
touch at the flag.
Bath seemed to have weathered the storm when Cueto broke clear, but Perry with
an impeccable sense of timing, was perfectly positioned to land the winner.
Teams
Bath: Perry, Balshaw, Tindall, Barkley, Voyce, Catt, Williams,
D. Barnes, Long, Mallett, Borthwick, Grewcock, Gabey,
G. Thomas, Lyle.
Replacements: Scaysbrook for Gabey (73).
Not Used: Chrystie, Regan, Emms, Thirlby, Crockett, Beattie.
Tries: Perry.
Pens: Perry 4.
Drop Goals: Perry.
Sale: Going, Cueto, Baxendell, Harris,
Robinson, Hodgson,
Redpath, Yates, Titterrell, Turner, Fullarton, Giacheri,
Perelini, Pinkerton, Anglesea.
Replacements: Shaw for Harris (36),
Jackman for Titterrell (74), Lines for Giacheri (51),
Black for Perelini (14), Wilkes for Anglesea (74).
Not Used: Dickens, Deane.
Tries: Cueto 2.
Cons: Hodgson 2.
Pens: Hodgson.
Sin Bin: Yates (9).
Att: 7,875
Ref: D. McHugh (RFU).
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