Bristol became only the second side to inflict a league defeat on Guinness
Premiership leaders Sale Sharks at the Memorial Stadium.
Sale fly-half Valentin Courrent missed a late long-range penalty attempt that
would have earned his side the consolation of a bonus point and indeed visitors
missed an early opportunity to take the lead as full-back Daniel Larrechea saw
his long-range penalty attempt from close to the right touchline sail past the
near upright.
But former Wales A fly-half Jason Strange was on target a couple of minutes
later from a similar position to open Bristol's account and his second, from 35
metres out and in front of the posts, took him past 100 league points for the
season.
Larrechea was again the wrong side of the same upright and wing David Lemi
looked set to score the first try of the game for Bristol as he chipped over the
last defender but was judged to have put a foot in touch.
Midway through the half Larrechea gave a long pass to Dean Schofield. The
giant second row drew a couple of players, shrugged off their half-hearted
tackles and powered to the line.
Courrent adding the extras but the Sale lead was short-lived as Strange
drilled his third penalty between the uprights just after the half-hour. With
five minutes of the half remaining Sale flanker Magnus Lund was yellow-carded
for offside at the ruck.
Sale conceded a penalty close to their own line but with four minutes
remaining on the countdown clock Bristol opted to kick for goal and Strange
landed his fourth penalty to give Bristol a 12-7 interval lead.
Bristol applied the early pressure and Argentina international Bernardo
Stortoni made a 50-metre break but was stopped 10 metres from the line by
flanker Nathan Bonner-Evans.
Minutes later Strange added his fifth penalty but was wide of the far upright
with his sixth attempt 10 minutes in to the second half.
Back to full strength, it was now Sale who applied the pressure, kicking two
penalties to the corner, but Bristol's defence stood up well.
The try of the game came 15 minutes from time when Lemi carved his way through
the Sale defence. The ball was passed outside to centre Brian Lima then inside
to Roy Winters.
The second row slipped the ball to scrum-half Shaun Perry who raced 22 metres
to the line with Strange adding the extras from out wide on the left. Bristol
skipper Matt Salter was the second player to be yellow-carded close to
full-time.
The visitors scored a late try as they rolled off the back of a maul and
replacement scrum-half Sililo Martens crossed the line. Courrent converted but
was off-target with a 45-metre penalty attempt.
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