Sale took their first step on the road back to Twickenham by defeating a
spirited Plymouth in the sixth round of the Powergen Cup at Edgeley Park.
Two tries each by Steve Hanley and captain Pete Anglesea and another by Andrew
Sheridan were enough to see off an Albion side coached by former Sharks
favourite Graham Dawe and enjoying a tremendous season in National League One.
Sharks head coach Philippe Saint-Andre had opted to rest a number of key
players, including England duo Jason Robinson and Charlie Hodgson, and even had
chance to give a few of his youngsters a run-out in the second half.
But the changes caused the Zurich Premiership side to look disjointed at times
and Albion managed to make some headway with winger Lee Robinson scoring two
tries.
Sale, who were defeated by Newcastle Falcons 37-33 in last year's final at
Twickenham, will now be seeking a favourable draw in the quarter-finals as they
look to continue their campaign for unlikely treble this season.
There was also some festive cheer for England head coach Andy Robinson with
Mark Cueto shining in an unfamiliar full-back role and the rangy Chris Jones,
making his first start for the Sharks for a month following injury, in
destructive mood at lock.
The Sharks came into the game in buoyant mood following back-to-back
morale-boosting European Challenge Cup wins over Narbonne. And the game was only
three minutes old when Hanley put Sale in front. Mike Hercus threw a long
mis-pass that the England winger did well to pick up from his bootlaces, and he
flew in along the flank for his fifth try of the season.
The Sharks faithful were thinking a barrage if tries would follow - but they
were to quickly be disappointed.
Following a length of the field phase of play linking forwards and backs in
tandem, Albion's Danny Thomas was brought down just shy of the line. But Ed
Barnes recycled the ball out to Robinson to dive over for the score. James
Pritchard converted from out wide to give the visitors the lead.
Hercus and Pritchard exchanged penalties as Sale started to make some sloppy
errors but Anglesea, skippering the side in place of the rested Robinson, gave
Philippe Saint-Andre's side some much-needed tonic. He barged over from a couple
of yards after being given a helping hand by a pack containing a plethora of
backs. Hercus converted from underneath the posts.
Pritchard kept Albion in touching distance with his second penalty, but Hercus
followed suit to put Sale 18-13 up going into the interval.
With just six minutes gone in the second period, Albion were reduced to 10 men
when prop Dan Parkes was sin-binned for stamping - and England front-row
Sheridan made them pay by plundering over from close range following Sebastien
Chabal's catch-and-drive from the resulting line-out.
The clash started to become decidedly one-sided, Anglesea scurrying over for
his second try of the afternoon from a yard out as Plymouth were forced on the
back foot. But the introduction of head coach and former Sharks hooker Dawe
seemed to revitalise the away side as Robinson sneaked in at the corner having
been fed by scrum-half Nigel Caine.
Hercus, however, kicked a penalty and Hanley glided over for his second try in
stoppage time to sew the game up for Sale. Tougher tests will surely come for
Saint-Andre in this competition.
Teams
Sale: Cueto, Moore, Baxendell, Rhys Jones, Hanley, Hercus,
Wigglesworth, Sheridan, Bruno, Halsall, Jones, Caillet,
Anglesea, Carter, Chabal.
Replacements: Riley for Cueto (64), Duffy for Baxendell (78),
Stewart for Halsall (59), Cox for Caillet (53),
Titterell for Carter (72).
Not Used: Roddam, Martens.
Tries: Hanley 2, Anglesea 2, Sheridan.
Cons: Hercus 2.
Pens: Hercus 3.
Plymouth Albion: Carrington, Robinson, Fabian, Arscott,
Pritchard, Barnes, Cane, Parkes, Pearl, Paoletti, Hunt, Tooala,
Schusteman, Thomas, Ward-Smith.
Replacements: Gelderbloom for Carrington (62),
Shelbourne for Cane (72), Dawe for Pearl (58),
Perry for Hunt (40), Lowrie for Tooala (78),
Luxton for Thomas (58).
Not Used: Hopkins.
Sin Bin: Parkes (45).
Tries: Robinson 2.
Cons: Pritchard.
Pens: Pritchard 2.
Att: 3,196
Ref: R Poite (RFU).
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