Sale v Leeds PG Cup Semi-final match report
By PoyntonShark
March 17 2004
So, Mr Squeaky, we meet again! Sale Sharks booked their place at Twickenham, with a return to the Sale style; slick handling and plenty of pace proved too much for Leeds Tykes, despite their creditable second half fight back.
With Charlie Hodgson on the mend, Mike Hercus
showed that he too can orchestrate a performance from one of the
deadliest back lines around. Sale seem to have
shrugged off the slow starters tag and, as in the quarter final, were
‘up for
it’ from the first whistle. After brief initial exchanges - and a
little
game of kick tennis - a Tyke on the wrong side of a maul saw Hercus put
Sale
into the
Leeds half. Sale caught and drove the resulting line-out; Bond made an
initial
attempt to break the line but was well tackled. The ruck was quick;
Matt
Cairns at scrum-half sent a pass which had Hercus stretching above his
head to
retirieve, but then a neat sidestep inside and an inside pass saw
Jason Robinson
dance past 3 defenders to score under the posts. Sharks 5–0 up in the 6th
minute, Hercus added the conversion (7-0).
We looked set for a see-saw
afternoon
when 3 minutes later Gordon Ross converted a penalty (7-3). Thankfully,
from a
Sale perspective, this proved to be a rare foray into the attacking
half for
the Tykes. Sale began to look like the team of last season, getting the
ball
wide at every opportunity, leading to a 12th minute break by
Hercus
and a well timed, lobbed miss pass to flying winger Iain Fullarton
who, from
10 yards out, had too much weight to be shoved into touch by a last
ditch tackle
from Leeds scrum-half Allan Dickens and scored in the corner (12-3).
Hercus
scuffed the conversion badly.
Leeds
were struggling to get out of their
own
half, not helped by the fact that, with an England place beckoning,
Mark Regan
seemed to have caught Steve Thompson’s dose of the yipps. Sale had two
further
penalty chances to extend their lead but Hercus was not on top kicking
form.
Just before the half hour Leeds did manage to gain a little territory
in the
Sale half and Ross once again converted a penalty after Sale came in
the side
of a ruck (12-6). Shortly after the restart Leeds were penalised for
holding on
the tackle and Hercus converted the simple penalty (15-6).
Sale were by now definitely ‘in the mood’ and Leeds found it difficult to come by possession, let alone territory. Sale continued to make ground; a Mark Cueto break saw a link up with Mike Hercus and then Jos Baxendell, whose sleight of hand almost put Jones away but for determined defence. Leeds were, however, too keen at this breakdown and were caught offside. Hercus again converted the penalty (18-6). Nearing the half time whistle as Leeds restarted, Sale secured ball and Hercus sent a long kick to touch. The kick wasn’t going to make touch but Leeds fullback Matt Cardy and a flanker Colm Rigney managed to contrive a fumble and the ball found touch just 5 yards from the Leeds line.
Sale once again secured the lineout and attempted to drive for the line but the Leeds pack proved resolute - change of plan: the ball was released, two long miss passes, and Steve Hanley completed a miserable couple of minutes for Matt Cardy by easily brushing his tackle aside and, diving to beat an attempted tackle by Dan Scarborough, he scored in the corner (23-6). Hercus found his kicking touch again and converted from out wide, ensuring that Sale went in at half time with a 25-6 lead. I am indebted to the BBC for providing a statistic which perhaps best illustrates Sale’s dominance of the first half: Ball won in opposition 22 – Sale 19, Leeds 0.
The
second half started in similar
vein, with Sale looking to move the ball, but shortly into the half
came the day’s
most controversial moment. Leeds were on the attack and for once making
gains
into Sale territory. Bond came across to tackle Scarborough. After
making the
tackle Bond immediately got to his feet and attempted to relieve
Scarborough of
the ball. The Leeds lock Stuart Hooper
came
in at pace and drove Bond off the ball; unfortunately Bond’s head was
trapped
under Hooper’s chest. They both fell to ground with Bond’s head still
trapped;
he appeared to flex his neck. Hooper got to his feet, but Bond lay
motionless
on his back. Play continued for what seemed like an age, probably in
reality was
only 26 seconds, but in such circumstances it is no exaggeration to say
that such
a delay could be the difference. In referee Dave Pearson’s defence, he
had his
back to Bond for most of this time; in my view the culprit of the piece
was the
touch judge - the Vernon stand, indeed half the ground, was screaming
for
someone
to take some action but play didn’t stop until it had got dangerously
close to
where Bond lay and Pearson noticed he hadn’t moved. There did appear to
be
technical difficulties with Mr Pearson’s ear piece, so no actual blame
may need
to be apportioned - I suspect that we shall never find out. Bond was
stretchered
from the pitch straight to hospital. Later reports have confirmed that
the
injury was not as bad as first appeared and may have been a hyper
extension of the
spine. Graeme is due to see the Sale team doctor today (Monday 15
March). Chris
Mayor came on as a replacement for Bond.
The Leeds defence seemed more resolute for the second half, with Sale breaking the line on far fewer occasions; the outstanding exception being a typically mesmerising 60 yard run from Jason Robinson, returning a Matt Cardy clearance from just outside his own 22 metre line to well within the Leeds 22. On reflection he may feel he should have been more greedy and taken on Leeds’ last defender, but he chose to pass. Unfortunately the pass was a bad one and bounced harmlessly into touch in front of Mark Cueto.
The usual flush of substitutions occurred during the second half, which seemed to unsettle Sale’s rhythm and Leeds, already performing much better than in the first half, took full advantage. After a spell of Leeds pressure they were awarded a penalty when the Sale backs encroached on the offside line. The 3 points would have been easy but with only 24 minutes on the clock and a 19 point deficit, Leeds opted for the Scrum. Sale resisted the initial pressure and survived a scare when Ross chipped over the top and Scarborough was favourite to win the race to touch down. There is a possibility that Hanley pushed Scarborough, though I think Hanley’s reaction was instinctive as Sacrborough cut across him. There was certainly contact, but not a deliberate shove. The result was that Scarborough knocked on over the line. Sale never properly relieved the pressure and Leeds soon regained possession; some good handling from the backs enabled Dan Scarborough to show his pace for the first time - he beat Steve Hanley too easily for my liking - yet after crossing the line seemed strangely disinclined to ground the ball and attempted to beat Mike Hercus, presumably in an effort to make the conversion easier. Hercus was having none of it, but Scarborough still managed to ground the ball (25-11). Scarborough need not have worried so, as Ross scored the conversion from out wide (25-13).
Sale
soon recouped some
of these points. After a good lineout take from the newly introduced
Dean
Schofield, the Sale pack drove down their left, Leeds were drawn
offside and,
whilst advantage was being played, Mike Hercus took the opportunity for
a free
drop at goal (28-13). To their great credit Leeds
refused to
lie down and once again exerted pressure on the Sale line. For some
reason
Sale appeared to be missing the earlier urgency in their defence and
Leeds held
together a large number of phases, culminating in Scarborough, this
time cropping
up in the centre, aiming a well placed grubber kick through the Sale
defence,
which he collected himself and crossed for his second try (28-18). The
impressive Ross once again converted (28-20). Despite the new closeness
in the
score Sale never really appeared to be in danger of losing this tie
and
finally sealed the victory in injury time. Mike Hercus sent up a high
up and
under; Diego Albanese was poised to collect under the posts, but he
appeared to
be put off by the approaching footsteps of Chris Jones. Albanese
dropped the
ball and Jones was quick to recover it. The supporting Sale forwards
were not
far behind and quickly secured the ruck. The ball was released and good
handling from Alex Sanderson and Mark Cueto sent Chris Mayor over to
confirm
Sale’s trip to Twickenham, 33-20. Mike Hercus hit the post with the
conversion.
Hercus had one further opportunity to extend Sale’s lead, when Leeds
were
penalised for a hand in the ruck, but not for the first time Hercus’
aim was
off and he pulled the kick left.
Without doubt Sale’s most complete home performance of the season and second only to the performance in Dublin. For once, not everyone is talking about how well the pack did, though they did perform to their usual high standards. On this day the backs were their equals and quite rightly took the plaudits.
Sale now have a date at Twickenham on April 17th against Rob Andrew’s Newcastle Falcons. I wonder if the nice Messers Smith and Cotton can be persuaded to make some Red and Black jerseys?
Sale 33 – Leeds 20
Sale:
Tries - Robinson, Fullarton, Hanley, Mayor
Conv - Hercus 2
DG - Hercus
Pen - Hercus 2
Leeds:
Tries - Scarborough 2
Conv - Ross 2
Pen - Ross 2
M.O.M – Mike Hercus