Harlequins' Zurich Premiership renaissance continued apace at Edgeley Park
tonight with a hard-fought victory over Sale.
Having notched their first win of the season against Saracens last weekend,
the Quins grabbed their opening away success with a backs-to-the-wall
performance against an under-performing Sharks outfit.
Fly-half Jeremy Staunton stole the show for the visitors, slotting four
penalties out of four in a flawless kicking display as Sale lost a great
opportunity to close the gap on leaders Leicester.
The Sharks, missing a host of key players either on international duty or
through injuries, had the first opportunity to open the scoring - but fly-half
Byron Hayward missed a relatively simple penalty from 35 yards.
Within a minute they had conceded a try.
Quins' scrum-half Steven So'oialo made an electric break down the left, and
the Samoan international fed flying winger Simon Keogh who touched down under
the posts for his second try of the season. Staunton converted.
A shell-shocked Sale finally got to grips with the game and hit back when
Hayward slotted a penalty.
The Welsh number 10 then missed another penalty - and it was left to Staunton
to show Hayward how to do it at the other end, with a three-pointer of his own
to increase the lead to 10-3.
Despite dominating possession, the Sharks' back play was often clumsy. But
their forwards were providing the penetration, and Quins soon paid the price for
their ill-discipline.
Former South Africa captain Andre Vos was sent to the sin-bin for a calculated
offence on their own try line. The visitors were soon down to 13 men, Staunton
given a second yellow card for a blatant offside.
But despite being camped in their own 22 and under a barrage of attacks, the
Quins' defence held firm.
The home crowd could finally celebrate when Kiwi centre Robert Todd cruised
over on the flank. Hayward converted to bring the scores level, just as Vos made
his return from the sidelines.
Harlequins, having soaked up piles of pressure, somehow went into the interval
in the lead when Staunton notched a penalty on the half-time whistle to make it
13-10.
The 24-year-old Irishman slotted over a long-range penalty to extend the
advantage at the start of the second half, but the opening exchanges were marred
by sloppy handling and attacking indecision.
An increasingly demoralised Hayward missed yet another penalty, as Sale's
inability to finish off phase after phase of possession football was again
apparent.
The stand-off managed to knock over a close-range three-pointer, his second of
the night, to narrow the deficit - and the Sharks were certainly on the front
foot as Quins fought hard to defend their slender lead.
Quins hit back, and Samoan wing George Harder cut through the home defence
only to be held up on the line after a marvellous jinking run.
Sale winger Chris Rhys Jones squandered a great chance in the corner following
superb build-up play by the pack - and the hosts were left to rue their
indecision as Quins closed out the game with a Staunton penalty with just two
minutes left.
Teams
Sale: Mayor, Rhys Jones, Baxendell, Todd, Hanley, Hayward,
Martens, Turner, Roddam, Stewart, Day, Schofield, Caillet,
Lund, Chabal.
Replacements: Moore for Hayward (80), Redpath for Martens (83),
Bozzi for Roddam (79), Carter for Schofield (74),
Anglesea for Caillet (74).
Not Used: Halsall, Taumalolo.
Sin Bin: Anglesea (78).
Tries: Todd.
Cons: Hayward.
Pens: Hayward 2.
Harlequins: Williams, Harder, James, Deane, Keogh, Staunton,
So'oialo, Worsley, Fuga, Jones, Winters, Miall, Easter, Vos,
Diprose.
Replacements: Monye for So'oialo (74), Maling for Miall (63).
Not Used: Hayter, Dawson, Sherriff, Dunne, Duffy.
Sin Bin: Vos (18), Staunton (24).
Tries: Keogh.
Cons: Staunton.
Pens: Staunton 4.
Att: 6,186
Ref: Wayne Barnes (Twickenham).
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