Sale brought their three-game losing run to a close at Heywood Road, moving up
to third place in the Zurich Premiership with a gritty victory over Bristol.
Mark Cueto, Graeme Bond and Jason Robinson touch down for the Sharks - Peter
Richards crossed for the Shoguns - but there was little quality rugby on show as
both sides struggled to adapt to the wet conditions.
Injury-hit Bristol clearly missed the influence of their half back duo Agustin
Pichot and Felipe Contepomi who were on international duty with Argentina ahead
of tomorrow's test against Australia.
Shane Drahm did his best to fill in at fly half but was overshadowed by his
opposite number Nick Walshe, who booted 10 points and turned in a finefine
all-round performance.
Robinson was switched from full-back to outside centre but the Lions star
could make little impact in his new position, with his midfield partner and
former Wallabys back Bond stealing the show.
Bristol dominated the opening exchanges but Drahm missed a couple of fine
chances to nudge his side into an early lead, pushing a drop goal and then a
penalty attempt wide of the upright.
However, for all the Shoguns' endeavour, it was the Sharks who notched the
first points of the evening courtesy of winger Cueto who carved his way through
Bristol's back line for a try in the corner.
Walshe, standing in for Charlie Hodgson while the England fly half undergoes
knee surgery, slotted the touchline conversion.
Bristol put the early setback behind them and set about the Sharks once again
and thanks to a sustained forward effort they almost crossed in the 22nd minute
but they paid the price for dithering too long with a try there for the taking.
Sale managed to batter their way clear and, in the ensuing breakdown, Shoguns
skipper Garath Archer was sin-binned for some over-enthusiastic rucking.
A Walshe penalty in the 29th minute pushed the home side into a 10-0 lead, an
ominous situation for Bristol given that for all their territory and possession,
they were starting to look ineffectual in attack.
England winger Phil Christophers was their most dangerous player, mixing some
delicate slight of hand with his trademark running to good effect, but he lacked
support from his team-mates.
Luckily Drahm had found his kicking touch and he booted two quick penalties
late in the half to slash the Sharks' interval lead to 10-6.
Bond made a stunning break shortly after the restart, running full tilt at a
flat Walshe pass and sprinting clear only to collide with full-back Lee Best,
Bristol's last line of defence.
Drahm kicked another penalty but Bond was in action again in the 49th minute
as he ripped open the Shoguns' rear guard before touching down under the post.
Walshe was on target with a conversion but Bristol hit back with a try from
scrum half Richards in the right corner.
Within five minutes Sale had swept 25-14 ahead, courtesy of a Walshe penalty
and Robinson's try, which powerful winger Hanley had set up with his neat chip
through.
Bond then capped a strong individual display with an 80th-minute drop goal,
sealing a deserved victory for the Sharks.
Teams
Sale: Going, Cueto, Robinson, Bond, Hanley, Walshe, Redpath,
Yates, Titterrell, Turner, C. Jones, Schofield, Anglesea,
Pinkerton, Davies.
Not Used: Marais, Thorp, Stewart, Day, Lund, Harris, Deane.
Tries: Cueto, Bond, Hanley.
Cons: Walshe 2.
Pens: Walshe 2.
Drop Goals: Bond.
Bristol: Best, Rees, Higgins, Gibson, Christophers,
Drahm,
Richards, E. Bergamaschi, Johnstone, Crompton, Archer,
A. Brown, Short, Lipman, Oakley.
Not Used: Rowland, S. Morgan, C. Morgan, Nelson, Hodgson, Shaw,
Carrington.
Tries: Richards.
Pens: Drahm 3.
Att: 4,700
Ref: Roy Maybank (RFU).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook