England fly-half Charlie Hodgson guided Sale Sharks safely through a hazardous
Heineken Cup mission at Rodney Parade with an impressively assured display.
The Sharks tightened their grip on Pool One by recording a second successive
victory, and they owed much of it to Hodgson, who scored 18 points, including an
opportunist try.
Watching England defence coach Phil Larder will have noted Hodgson's maturity
and calmness under pressure, auguring well for the world champions' autumn Test
series that begins against Australia on November 12.
Hodgson's England colleague Mark Cueto, elusive runner Daniel Larrechea,
flanker Magnus Lund and centre Elvis Seveali'i also added tries, and Sharks left
south Wales elated after collecting a bonus point.
Hodgson kept the scoreboard ticking over by converting all five touchdowns and
booting a penalty that negated a second-half Dragons fightback.
Although the Dragons were briefly reduced to 13 men following two sin-binnings
in quick succession, wing Gareth Wyatt's third try in two Heineken Cup games
this season ensured a degree of respectability.
Sale, though, are well on course for the quarter-finals, and back-to-back
victories over French challengers Castres in December should prove enough.
Sale, despite the huge lift of a comfortable victory over renowned European
warriors Munster in their pool opener, knew that French giants Stade Francais
and Perpignan had come unstuck on previous Heineken Cup excursions to Rodney
Parade.
But the Dragons suffered a late injury blow when Wales lock Ian Gough withdrew
from their starting line-up because of a rib problem.
Peter Sidoli replaced Gough, while Sharks preferred hooker Sebastien Bruno to
Andy Titterrell and French recruit Larrechea returned at full-back, so skipper
Jason Robinson featured on the left-wing.
The Dragons forwards displayed a hunger for work early on, yet those efforts
were undone after 13 minutes when Sale scored against the run of play.
Dragons centre Ceri Sweeney tried to clear possession from just outside the
home 22, but Hodgson charged it down and managed to gather the ball for a try
that he also converted - via an upright - from wide out.
The Dragons were stung by such a setback, and although fly-half Craig Warlow's
opening 45-metre penalty strike opened their account, they found themselves
under increasing pressure from a heavyweight Sale pack.
Such relentless domination had to bring its reward, and Sale extended their
lead on 25 minutes through a well-worked score.
Hodgson's half-break was sufficient to leave the Dragons' defence in a
disorganised state, allowing Robinson plenty of time to consider his options
before rifling out a try-scoring pass in Cueto's direction.
It was the England star's ninth touchdown this season in all competitions, and
with Hodgson effortlessly converting, Sale were cruising at 14-3 ahead.
Things got worse for the Dragons as half-time approached, when they were once
again punished after their defence fell apart.
Hodgson could even afford to off-load a poor pass, as even though it rolled
along the ground, Larrechea reacted like lightning and scampered over before his
would-be tacklers could scarcely blink.
Hodgson maintained his 100% conversion success rate, and the Dragons trooped
off having been reduced to 14 men when Sidoli was sin-binned by French referee
Christophe Berdos for a technical infringement.
And within four minutes of the restart, flanker Andrew Hall followed Sidoli
into the bin when he tipped Sharks lock Chris Jones from a lineout, leaving
referee Berdos with little option but to brandish a yellow card.
But despite being temporarily reduced to 13 players, the Dragons responded
magnificently by conjuring a try that originated inside their own 22.
There appeared to be little on when full-back Kevin Morgan released Wyatt, yet
the speedster scorched into Sale territory, kicked ahead and beat a fumbling
Robinson - now at full-back - for a memorable individual score.
Sale had slipped their foot off the accelerator following an impressive
first-half performance, and it required a 62nd-minute Hodgson penalty to restore
breathing space in terms of a 13-point lead.
Lund's try six minutes from time ensured a maximum five points for the
Guinness Premiership leaders, and it was an emphatic case of job done when
Seveali'i sprinted over deep into injury time.
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook