Sharks eat Cherries pips and all!

Jos's Magic Touch
By CheadleEnder
March 31 2004

The revenge was very sweet indeed. Sale Sharks produced what must rate as the performance of the season to beat Gloucester 38 - 20. The words 'enthralling' and 'exhilarating' appeared in all the post match reports and they accurately reflect the feelings of the fans in the crowd

Mike Hercus played an excellent kicking game keeping Gloucester well pinned in their own half. When the Cherry & Whites eventually got their hands on the ball 10 minutes into the game it was only to turn it over. Jos Baxendell's flip through the legs to set Steve Hanley racing to the line was sublime.  Eight minutes later Mark Cueto took a scorching pass from Nick Walshe at the base of the scrum and skinned the last two defenders on his way to the line for the second try of the game. Steve and Mark then combined in first half injury time to provide the third try. Franks's incisive running was again crucial. He sliced cleanly through the Gloucester midfield and worked the ball cleverly in the final tackle to give Hanley a walk-in try. Mike Hercus slotted all his conversions and a penalty kick.

Gloucester's only score in the first half came from a Henry Paul penalty kick.

Henry Paul gave Gloucester some hope at the beginning of the second half with a long range penalty from the half way line to take the score to 24-6. But Sale had some magical moments still to come. The term 'outrageous pass' has become a bit of a cliché but I can't think of any other way to describe the pass from Stuart Turner that sent Mike Hercus in under the posts to secure the bonus point will less than an hour gone on the clock. It was inspired.

Things began to unravel when referee Chris White began to lose his patience with persistent infringements as Gloucester hammered at the Sale line.  Mark Cueto and Stuart Turner were both binned within minutes of each.  However, despite a two man advantage, Gloucester could not find their way past the Sale defence which had been outstanding all evening.

The effort eventually told though. Chris White deemed Turner had come into the ruck from the side and sent him straight back into the sinbin. His departure was followed by a try from Gloucester's replacement hooker Delarey du Preez. A second try by lock Alex Brown and two conversions by Paul then gave a lengthy spell of injury time added excitement.  The tension was compounded for fans in the ground as the scoreboard and clock had failed and we were left guessing at how much time was still to be played! Fans were screaming at the referee to blow his whistle when Hugh Perrett set up Steve Hanley for his third try of the night.  Charlie Hodgson converted and we headed for the Royal Oak to celebrate a magnificent night of rugby.