Gloucester won in style with five tries but even Sale would admit it could
have been worse.
Andy Gomarsall, Olivier Azam and Daren O'Leary all crossed the Sale line but
were denied scores.
In the end Gloucester got their bonus point to put more space between them and
third-placed Sale but there remained question marks over their finishing.
At times, especially in the first half, their pack was dynamic but their
attacking play was littered with errors.
Gloucester led 27-9 at half-time thanks to the pack which totally dominated
affairs.
Junior Paramore, Gomarsall and James Simpson-Daniel got Gloucester's tries in
that period, the latter coming after Terry Fanolua and Jake Boer had met in a
violent collision as they tried to stop Jason Robinson on one of his dangerous
runs.
Fly-half Ludvic Mercier added to Sale's problems with two penalties and three
conversions by half-time.
Sale, who had tested Gloucester early on, could only muster three penalties
from fly-half Vaughan Going in reply.
Gloucester were not nearly as dominant after the interval and Going gave Sale
some hope when he went through for their only try in the 45th minute.
The home side were soon back in control however with tries from James
Forrester and Federico Pucciariello and Mercier adding a conversion and a
penalty.
Gloucester's new rugby director Nigel Melville saw his side dominate but their
inability to get things right for referee John Barnard and the many missed
scoring chances will need his urgent attention.
Teams:
Gloucester: O'Leary, Albanese, Paul, Todd, Fanolua, Mercier, Gomarsall, Collazo, Azam, Vickery, Fidler, Cornwell, Boer, Forrester, Paramore.
Replacements: Simpson-Daniel for Fanolua (23),
Yachvili for Gomarsall (55), Woodman for Collazo (41),
Fortey for Azam (73), Pucciarello for Vickery (65),
Pearce for Fidler (73), Sewabu for Paramore (68).
Sin Bin: Pearce (76).
Tries: Paramore, Gomarsall, Simpson-Daniel,
Forrester, Pucciarello.
Cons: Mercier 4.
Pens: Mercier 3.
Sale: Robinson, Cueto, Shaw, Deane, Hanley, Going, Redpath, Yates, C. Marais, Black, Fullarton, Giacheri, Lines, Wilks, A. Sanderson.
Replacements: Elliott for Hanley (60),
Dickens for Redpath (61), Titterrell for C. Marais (64),
C. Jones for A. Sanderson (37).
Not Used: Bramhall, Davies, Turner.
Sin Bin: C. Jones (40).
Tries: Going.
Pens: Going 3.
Att: 9,461
Ref: John Barnard (RFU).
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