Sale Sharks' poor run of results continued against early Zurich Premiership
pacesetters Bath at Edgeley Park.
The 14-9 defeat means Jim Mallinder's men have now gone nine league matches
without a win, a run stretching back to March.
Braam Van Straaten, on his Sharks debut, had a torrid time, missing five out
of eight attempts at goal which ought to have been enough to secure victory for
his side.
Bath were the first team to show during a low-key game in front of 6,000
spectators as Lee Best's run set the tone for the evening.
The highlight of the match arrived as early as the 12th minute with Brendon
Daniels' try in the corner following a lightning exchange of passes.
Sale had to wait until almost the half hour to open their account which
arrived courtesy of Van Straaten's short penalty.
But in Olly Barkley, Bath had a kicker who was operating at the top of his
game.
His penalty was cancelled out by a rare successful attempt from Van Straaten,
but the visitors still went in at the break 8-6 ahead.
The second period was a poor affair, with Van Straaten's kicking erratic
display giving Mallinder plenty of food for thought.
Barkley's two successive penalties - coupled with a third score for
out-of-sorts Van Straaten - were the only further points on a night to forget
for the home side, who now have a week to reflect before next Saturday's
daunting trip to Leicester.
For Bath, though, there were plenty of reasons to celebrate after their third
successive win sent them clear at the top of the table.
Teams
Sale: Going, Cueto, Hoyle, Bond, Hanley, van Straaten,
Wigglesworth, Sheridan, Cairns, Turner, C. Jones, Schofield,
A. Sanderson, Pinkerton, Davies.
Replacements: Titterell, Stewart, Fullarton, Day, Lund, Mayor,
Walshe.
Pens: van Straaten 3.
Bath: Perry, Best, Williams, Barkley, Daniel, Malone, Wood,
Flatman, Humphreys, Bell, Fidler, Borthwick, Beattie, Lipman,
Fea'unati.
Replacements: Blake, Mears, Stevens, Kydd, Knox, Scaysbrook, Gray.
Tries: Daniel.
Pens: Barkley 3.
Att: 6,000
Ref: David Rose (RFU).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook