Harlequins suffered their worst-ever home defeat in the Premiership as a
six-match unbeaten home run completely disintegrated at the Stoop.
Second-placed Sale barely had to break into a sweat as they scored five tries
with ease - four of which came in the second half where the home team rarely
threatened at any point.
Charlie Hodgson, a possible starter for England in the RBS 6 Nations on this
type of performance, kicked the visitors into an early three-point lead
following a line- out catch and driving play in the opening minute of the game.
Neither line was troubled for some time thereafter, although any attacking
ideas solely came from the visitors.
The Sharks went further in front through their lock Chris Jones following a
simple inside pass from the Sharks Australian centre Graeme Bond and despite a
desperate tackle from England winger Dan Luger, playing a first-ever game at
full-back, Sale grabbed their first try, which Hodgson comfortably converted.
At this point it had been virtually all the Sharks.
The visitors went further in front six minutes from the break with a second
Hodgson penalty and although Harlequins attempted to threaten shortly
afterwards, they had to settle for a 13-point deficit at the break.
If Quins had any hope of changing the outcome of this game they needed to
score early in the second half, but after Hodgson spurned a kickable penalty,
the visitors went further in front with another Hodgson penalty from inside the
22.
Quins' only chance of points arrived shortly afterwards but Paul Burke missed
a kickable chance at goal and three minutes later it was all but over when
Graeme Bond strolled in without a Quins player near him.
Hodgson's conversion made it 23-0, and in desperation Harlequins coach Mark
Evans made four changes, three in the forwards.
The home side almost conjured up a score but Hodgson's interception of Will
Greenwood's attempted pass by the posts was almost the last time Quins
threatened to score and on the hour, Hodgson nailed yet another penalty to leave
the home side staring into an abyss.
With the home team probably wishing for an early final whistle, two more tries
in four minutes saw the visitors ease ahead to 38-0.
Firstly, Mark Cueto scampered home from 30 metres following good work from Dan
Harris and then Hodgson was able to stroll in himself in the right-hand corner
for a try that he converted which signalled some wholesale changes from the
visitors.
However, there was no let up for the home side who somehow managed to hold out
until stoppage time when Stephen Hanley powered home with former Harlequin Nick
Walshe adding the final conversion and the final nail in the Quins' coffin.
Teams
Harlequins: Luger, Jewell, Greenwood, Satala, Moore, Burke,
Bemand, Starr, Fuga, Leonard, Davison, Codling, Tiatia, Vos,
Diprose.
Replacements: Cardinalli, Miall, Evans, Sheriff, M. Powell,
D. Slemen, Barratt.
Sale: Robinson, Cueto, Harris, Bond, Hanley, Hodgson, Redpath,
Yates, Titterrell, Stewart, C. Jones, Schofield, A. Sanderson,
Pinkerton, Anglesea.
Replacements: Marais, Turner, Fullarton, Davies, Baxendell, Going,
Walshe.
Tries: C. Jones, Bond, Cueto, Hodgson, Hanley.
Cons: Hodgson 3, Walshe.
Pens: Hodgson 4.
Att: 6,823
Ref: Steve Lander (RFU).
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