Sale Sharks clinched second place in the Zurich Premiership with a stunning
six-try victory over Harlequins in front of a full house at Heywood Road.
Sale needed the bonus point to guarantee finishing just behind champions
Leicester and ahead of Gloucester but their season is far from over as they look
forward to the European Shield final in a fortnight's time as well as the
play-offs.
Quins' Paul Burke broke the stalemate after 17 minutes with a penalty but
their lead was short-lived as just two minutes later Sale broke out of defence
and winger Mark Cueto touched down to become the leading scorer in the
Premiership.
Charlie Hodgson converted and Sale looked to be heading for another easy
victory but Quins dug in and defended well to remain just four points behind at
the interval.
Sale struck early after the break with centre Mel Deane powering through under
the posts for Hodgson to convert.
Replacement fly-half Mark Mapletoft added the second penalty for Quins and
then former Sale winger Matt Moore ran in a try against his old club to put
Quins back in the game.
Sale's third try was scored by Cueto, giving him a grand total of 13 for the
season and the vital fourth try came from England's new boy Hodgson who
converted his own try.
With second place secured, Sale turned on the style and rounded the day off
with tries from Charl Maraix and Jos Baxendell.
Teams
Sale: Robinson, Cueto, Baxendell, Deane, Elliott, Hodgson,
Redpath, Yates, Titterrell, Turner, Lines, C. Jones,
A. Sanderson, Pinkerton, Anglesea.
Replacements: Going for Deane (72), Dickens for Redpath (76),
Black for Yates (49), C. Marais for Titterrell (61),
Stewart for Turner (65), Giacheri for Lines (71),
Wilks for Anglesea (61).
Tries: Cueto 2, Deane, Hodgson, Baxendell, C. Marais.
Cons: Hodgson 5.
Harlequins: Gollings, Jewell, Bell,
Greenstock, Moore, Burke,
M. Powell, Leonard, Tiatia, Douglas, Codling, Davison, Winters,
White-Cooper, Diprose.
Replacements: D. Slemen for Moore (71),
Mapletoft for Burke (46), Duncombe for M. Powell (30),
Starr for Leonard (62), Fuga for Tiatia (46).
Not Used: Sheriff, Rudzki.
Tries: Moore.
Pens: Burke, Mapletoft.
Att: 5,678
Ref: Chris White (RFU).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook