Zurich Premiership leaders Sale failed to maintain their winning run at Bath
in the absence of seven players on international duty.
Bath maintained their grip on fifth place thanks to 17 points from the boot of
Olly Barkley and tries from James Scaysbrook and Alex Crockett.
International recognition has long been overdue in the eyes of Sale supporters
but having so many players called up, including new England skipper Jason
Robinson, proved something of a double-edged sword.
With both Andy Titterrell and Sebastien Bruno on bench duty for England and
France respectively, head coach Philippe St Andre was left with only one hooker,
John Roddam, for the lunchtime fixture at the Recreation Ground.
He also had to sign prop Sebastian Bozzi and fly-half Byron Hayward during the
week on short-term contracts, and both among the replacements.
Bath, themselves without England locks Steve Borthwick and Danny Grewcock plus
centre Mike Tindall, were able to field a more settled line up despite their
usual crop of walking wounded.
One plus was the return of the forgotten man of England rugby, Matt Perry,
after two months out with injury.
The home side were quicker into their stride, stretching Sale from left to
right before flanker Scaysbrook found a gap to score the first try after five
minutes.
Barkley hooked his conversion attempt but extended Bath's lead to 11 points
with two penalties in the first quarter.
Sale's US Eagles fly-half Mike Hercus was clearly not so confident with his
place kicking and missed a sitter at the other end.
Bath breathed a collective sigh of relief and promptly scored a breakaway try
on 32 minutes when the busy Crockett benefited after Sale's back three failed to
deal with a lofted kick by Chris Malone.
Barkley converted and the home side were sitting pretty at 18-0.
Hercus finally found his range with a penalty on 36 minutes and Bath were
guilty of lifting their foot off the pedal, conceding a charge-down try to
flanker Magnus Lund two minutes later.
Hercus converted and with Bath skipper Jonathan Humphreys in the sin-bin for a
professional foul, landed another successful kick to leave Sale just 18-13
behind at half-time.
The contest was finely balanced and Sale might have scored a second try with a
forward drive in the corner but Bath survived and Barkley landed three penalties
during a scrappy second-half to clinch the win.
Bath even spurned a simple penalty chance in injury time in search of a try as
Sale in turn lost Lund to the sin-bin.
Teams:
Bath: Perry, Welsh, Crockett, Barkley, Daniel, Malone, Walshe,
Barnes, Humphreys, Bell, Hudson, Fidler, Scaysbrook, Lipman,
Fea'unati.
Replacements: Maddock for Perry (75), Davey for Welsh (80),
Baxter for Walshe (80), Mears for Humphreys (80),
Loader for Bell (80), Smith for Fidler (80),
Lewis for Lipman (75).
Tries: Scaysbrook, Crockett.
Cons: Barkley.
Pens: Barkley 5.
Sale: Todd, Moore, Baxendell, Rhys Jones, Mayor, Hercus,
Martens, Turner, Roddam, Stewart, Day, Schofield, Jones, Lund,
Chabal.
Replacements: Wigglesworth for Baxendell (80),
Bozzi for Turner (80), Caillet for Jones (56).
Not Used: Halsall, Carter, Redpath, Hayward.
Tries: Lund.
Cons: Hercus.
Pens: Hercus 2.
Att: 10,500
Ref: Wayne Barnes (Twickenham).
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