Two tries in the first 10 minutes of the second half consigned Harlequins to
their third home defeat of the season, and their second at home on successive
Saturdays as Sale found their try-scoring touch.
Harlequins' Zurich Premiership season has floundered in recent weeks after a
succession of injuries to their potential game-breakers - and without star
players such as George Harder, Ugo Monye, Ace Tiatia and Simon Miall Harlequins
are a pale shadow of the side who looked so hot earlier in the season.
In last week's defeat to Gloucester head coach Mark Evans bemoaned the lack of
quality possession from the line-out - and it was exactly the same again this
week as the home side lost five of their opening nine line-outs in the first
period.
The game still started well for the hosts, Paul Burke slotting over an early
penalty.
If they had continued to take that option instead of attempting to score from
line-outs they might have built up a useful lead.
But after a Braam van Straaten levelled with a penalty on 12 minutes, the
visitors came more and more into the game. They took the lead midway through the
first half after a sustained amount of pressure down the left flank - and as the
ball was transferred across the field Nick Walshe and Vaughan Going combined to
set up hooker Matt Cairns for an opening try converted by van Straaten.
Burke responded with a penalty from the re-start to reduce the deficit.
But after a turnover inside the Sale half, the visitors' number eight Chris
Jones carved through a pathetic home defence on a 50 metre solo run before
offloading to powerhouse winger Steve Hanley, who strolled in for only his third
try of the season and his first since the opening match against Northampton.
Following van Straaten's conversion, Quins were already in trouble - and
although Burke pulled back a penalty minutes later, Sale went further in front
in the 50th minute when Pat Moore missed a tackle on hooker Cairns who offloaded
to winger Mark Cueto for only his second try of the season.
The hosts' cause was not helped with the sin-binning of lock Bill Davison, and
Sale eased further ahead with two van Straaten penalties as the game entered the
final quarter.
Two tries in stoppage time from Keogh and Andy Reay gave the home fans hopes
of salvaging at least a bonus point - but replacement fly-half Andy Dunn was
able to convert only the first to leave Quins nine points short.
Teams:
Harlequins: Duffy, Keogh, Deane, Reay, Moore, Burke, Willis,
Worsley, Hayter, Dawson, Davison, Evans, Sanderson, Vos,
Diprose.
Replacements: Dunne for Burke (74), Jones for Worsley (74).
Not Used: C. Dott, Gomez, Winters, Sheriff, Jewell.
Sin Bin: Davison (58).
Tries: Keogh, Reay.
Cons: Dunne.
Pens: Burke 3.
Sharks: Going, Cueto, van Straaten, Bond, Hanley, Walshe,
Wigglesworth, Sheridan, Cairns, Turner, Fullarton, Schofield,
A. Sanderson, Pinkerton, C. Jones.
Replacements: Stewart for Turner (68),
Lund for A. Sanderson (68).
Not Used: Titterell, Yates, Mayor, Baxendell, Devlin.
Tries: Cairns, Hanley, Cueto.
Cons: van Straaten 3.
Pens: van Straaten 3.
Att: 5,067
Ref: Ashly Rodden (England).
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