Awesome Sale See off the Challenge of The Borders

Walshe : Impressive
By Jonathan Noad
August 24 2002

Sale Sharks played some awesome rugby in their 46-3 rout of new Scottish professional side The Borders at Heywood Road on Friday night. Despite being a pre season friendly the Sharks took the game seriously with a great team effort.

The Sharks, unusually playing in the red away kit from two seasons ago, opened the scoring early in the first half with a well worked try carried over by Vaughan Going. This continued with further tries from Mark Cueto (2) and Andy Titterell with Charlie Hodgson providing 2 out of 4 conversions. Just before half time Mel Deane was helped from the field with a worrying looking knee injury after a collision with a Borders player and Jos Baxendell. However he seemed to be walking fine later on. The Sharks led at the break by 24-3.

After the break Charl Marais and new signing Jim Thorpe replaced Titterell and Yates respectively. The Sharks then continued with more scoring from Steve Hanley, Pete Anglesea, Alex Sanderson and a third for Mark Cueto. A conversion was added by the impressive new signing Nick Walshe who deputised ably for first Hodgson then Bryan Redpath. The game finished at 46-3.

This was another great team effort with all on the field and the replacements playing well. Particularly impressive was Chris Jones (again) and Dean Schofield in the second row.

Lets hope this is the sign of things to come from the Sale Sharks ...... bring on Leicester !!!!

Team : Going; Cueto, Baxendell, Deane, Hanley; Hodgson, Redpath; Anglesea, Pinkerton, Sanderson; Jones, Schofield; Yates, Titterell, Stewart

Replacements : Walshe, Robinson, Elliott, Harris, Marais, Thorpe, Perellini, Day.

Scorers : Tries - Cueto (3), Hanley, Going, Sanderson, Anglesea, Titterell. Conversions : Hodgson (2), Walshe

Team