Sale booked a place in the Parker Pen Shield semi-finals with a thrilling
victory over Bristol at Heywood Road.
In horrendous conditions, the lead changed hands four times before Scotland
international Bryan Redpath stole over in the corner just before the hour to
give Sale a lead they defended until the last.
Sharks coach Jim Mallender selected England full-back Jason Robinson - making
his Shield debut - at outside centre to add fuel to the rumours that national
coach Clive Woodward has pinpointed the former rugby league ace to add a spark
of invention his midfield.
And although he had a relatively quiet night, it took just three minutes for
Robinson to make a telling contribution.
Thirty-yards out he sliced through the Bristol defence before handing onto
full-back Vaughan Going to crash over.
Charlie Hodgson hit the post with the attempted conversion but made amends
just three minutes later with a penalty to extend Sale's lead.
As the teeming rain briefly abated, Bristol began to find their feet and
reduced the arrears to 8-6 - fly-half Felipe Contepomi, returning to the Shoguns
side from sevens duty with Argentina, landing two penalties.
Hodgson then skewed one of his own wide right before Vaughan made a
barnstorming run through the Bristol defence, making 40 seemingly impossible
yards.
But when Bristol wing Phil Christophers eventually cleared, launching a giant
up-and-under, the Sale defence was indecisive and fatally allowed the ball to
bounce.
Christophers continued his run, collected the loose ball and ran under the
posts unopposed for a try easily converted by Contepomi.
Almost immediately Sale hit back through former England wing Steve Hanley to
restore the lead with a converted score.
At half-time, with the hosts up 15-13, the game remained in the balance but it
was Bristol who emerged the stronger.
And after spending seven minutes camped on the Sale line, the impressive
Agustin Pichot worked an opening and Contepomi darted under the posts as Bristol
regain the lead.
Inside 12 minutes, though, Sale had forged into their own five point
advantage.
As the Bristol pack began to tire, Redpath peeled off a maul to score in the
corner. Hodgkinson made no mistake with the afters and then landed a 63rd-minute
penalty to give Sale victory and, after Kevin Yates and Bristol's Craig Short
had been sin-binned late on, a place in the semi-finals.
Teams
Sale: Going, Cueto, Robinson, Deane, Hanley, Hodgson, Redpath,
Yates, Titterrell, Turner, Fullarton, Lines, Perelini,
Pinkerton, A. Sanderson, C. Jones, Black.
Replacements: C. Marais for Titterrell (61),
C. Jones for Perelini (73), Black for C. Jones (78),
C. Jones for Black (80).
Not Used: Dickens, Baxendell, Elliott, Giacheri.
Tries: Going, Hanley, Redpath.
Cons: Hodgson 2.
Pens: Hodgson 2.
Bristol: Carrington, Nabaro, Higgins, Little, Christophers,
Contepomi, Pichot, Johnstone, McCarthy, White, Archer,
A. Brown, Sheridan, Short, Salter.
Replacements: Daniel for Nabaro (70), Sturnham for Salter (41).
Not Used: Roland, Crompton, Lipman, Blake, Drahm.
Sin Bin: Short (75).
Tries: Christophers, Contepomi.
Cons: Contepomi 2.
Pens: Contepomi 2.
Att: 3,607
Ref: Daniel Gillet (France).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook