Bath ended their miserable seven-game run without a Zurich Premiership victory
after staging an impressive fightback to sink Sale at the Recreation Ground.
The Sharks still have not won away this season, but they blew a 15-8 half-time
lead as Bath displayed admirable character and commitment.
A second-half penalty try, awarded when Sharks debutant Warren Spragg
blatantly hauled down Bath's Simon Danielli after the wing had kicked clear,
ultimately settled an uninspiring encounter.
Wing Tom Voyce claimed an early try for the home side, while centre Olly
Barkley kicked 11 points and substitute fly-half Chris Malone dropped a goal to
counteract touchdowns by Sharks pair Steve Hanley and Graeme Bond, plus Nick
Walshe's two penalties and one conversion.
Bath were captained by hooker Jonathan Humphreys in the absence of England
lock Danny Grewcock, and Matt Perry's late injury absence meant that Rob Thirlby
started at full-back.
Mike Catt, whose recurring hamstring problem sidelined him from England squad
duty last week, wore the number 10 jersey, and Sharks handed a first start to
20-year-old Spragg.
Thirlby, linked with a possible loan move to Leeds in the past few days, could
not have made a worse start though.
His defensive frailties were horribly exposed through Sharks' first meaningful
attack, as Hanley effortlessly rounded him and sprinted unopposed to the line on
five minutes.
Bath responded when Barkley slotted a penalty, and they went ahead just five
minutes later following a spell of sustained pressure which stretched Sharks'
defence in all directions.
The visitors eventually ran out of numbers, and Voyce claimed a well-worked
touchdown to suggest that Bath might rip up the Premiership form book.
Sharks scrum-half Walshe tied things up at 8-8 with a 21st-minute penalty, but
the game developed into a niggly, fractious affair as cheap shots were
administered by both sides.
Remarkably, referee Geraint Ashton-Jones kept his cards in his pocket,
preferring instead to warn rival skippers Humphreys and Stuart Pinkerton.
Bath's promising start had flattered to deceive, and in first-half injury
time, Barkley's woeful defensive clearance was gathered by Sharks wing Mark
Cueto, who sent Bond over for a simple try.
Walshe's superb touchline conversion gave the visitors a 15-8 interval lead,
leaving Bath with another mini Premiership crisis to ponder.
Barkley had a chance to put the home side back in contention, but he missed
two penalty chances in three minutes, and then scrum-half Gareth Cooper limped
off injured before Barkley finally found the target from close range.
The Sharks could not regain their early territorial foot-hold, and Bath struck
after 56 minutes to finally reward incessant pressure.
Danielli ran aggressively from deep, and when he chased his kick deep inside
the Sharks' half, Spragg tackled him without the ball, giving referee
Ashton-Jones no option but to award a penalty try, which Barkley improved.
Catt's hamstring weakness forced him off just seconds after that score -
Australian Malone replaced him - but Bath now had momentum in their ranks, and
just as importantly, confidence.
The visitors found themselves under growing pressure, compounded by Walshe's
sin-binning for killing possession which gave Barkley a simple penalty which he
kicked for a deserved 21-15 advantage.
Sale launched the occasional counter-attacking thrust during the closing
minutes, but they will be bitterly disappointed to return home with nothing more
than a bonus point return, clinched by Walshe's injury-time penalty.
Teams
Bath: Thirlby, Danielli, Barkley, Crockett, Voyce, Catt,
Cooper, Barnes, Humphries, Mallett, Borthwick, Lyle,
Scaysbrook, Beattie, N. Thomas.
Not Used: A. Williams, Mears, Galasso, Malone, Davy,
Pendlebury, Lloyd.
Tries: Voyce, Penalty.
Cons: Barkley.
Pens: Barkley 3.
Drop Goals: Malone.
Sale: Going, Cueto, Deane, Bond,
Hanley, Spragg, Walshe, Yates,
Titterrell, Turner, Schofield, C. Jones, Davies, Pinkerton,
Anglesea.
Not Used: Marais, Thorp, Stewart, Day, Lund, Harris,
Wigglesworth.
Tries: Hanley, Bond.
Cons: Walshe.
Pens: Walshe 2.
Att: 7,430
Ref: Grant Ashton-Jones (RFU).
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