First Half Display Win's Game For Sale

After a great start to the season and then a series of losses, Sale were determined to gain revenge for Bath's 27-13 win at the Rec. However a final score of 19-10 should be classed by the Sale supporters as a short measure on the basis of their team's first half domination of this match.

The day did not get off to a good start for Bath, losing star player and in-form kicker, Olly Barkley, to a back spasm problem. Losing such an influential player and not having any experienced back-up was always going to prove difficult but at the start of the match it looked as though Bath would be able to take the game to Sale and perhaps sneak a win. Bath won a penalty after a minute and Chris Malone found touch well in to the Sale half. Another penalty within minutes took play within Malone's goal-kicking range but the Aussie hadn't borrowed Barkley's boots and his miss set the tempo for the rest of the match for Bath. Apparently this was the first miss by a Bath kicker in 22 attempts and just goes to show the value of Olly Barkley.

Bath controlled much of the first fifteen minutes, though Steve Hanley slipped when it looked as though he could score the opening try for the home side after Chris Malone had sliced his clearance kick. However as soon as Chris Mayer scored for Sale after 18 minutes the rest of the half belonged to the home team. A catalogue of misfortune contributed to Bath's downfall: firstly Andrew Higgins limped off after just 8 minutes and Mayor touched down whilst Matt Perry was off the field receiving attention.

Fortunately for Bath, Charlie Hodgson missed the conversion to Mayor's try (and several other straightforward penalties), and Chris Malone dragged the score back to 5-3 with a penalty after 22 minutes. However within five minutes Sale scored their second try, following some great inter-passing between the backs, and Baxendell set up Mark Cueto with lively handling to take the lead to 12-3. Sale then pounded the Bath line and were held up just short of scoring before John Carter got his try from a pick and drive at a scrum in first-half injury time. Bath looked well and truly out of the game 19-3 down at half time.

Sale couldn't capatilise on their first half form throughout the second period and failed to score a fourth try for the vital bonus point. Chris Malone missed two very kickable penalties in the opening five minutes for Bath but then managed a great touchline conversion after Ryan Davis scored Bath's only try. Joe Maddock, on for the injured Higgins, and Chris Mayor tussled for Malone's cross-field kick in front of the Sale line and Davis was on hand to pick up the pieces. With the score at 19-10 and 20 minutes to go this was certainly anyone's game. Unfortunately the visitors couldn't build on this opportunity and Sale held on for a vital win against their closest rivals in the league.

Bath will be disappointed with this loss but the coaches will not be reflecting too much on their ridiculously long injury list. The second half display demonstrated that this team could have won the game and this will serve as a spur for the next time we head to Manchester - in the Cup towards the end of January.

Sale have been a tough team to beat for quite some time, as the appended list shows. We've lost 4 of the last 10 games and only 1 of the away fixtures. Of those we have won, the scores have been close.

Sale: Robinson, Cueto, Baxendell, Todd, Hanley, Hodgson, Wigglesworth, Sheridan, Bruno, Stewart, Day, Schofield, White, Carter, Chabal.
Replacements: Titterell, Turner, Anglesea, Jones, Foden, Hercus, Mayor.

Bath: Perry, Higgins, Welsh, Davis, Daniel, Malone, Walshe, Barnes, Humphreys, Bell, Borthwick, Grewcock, Beattie, Lipman, Fea'unati.
Replacements: Mears, Stevens, Fidler, Scaysbrook, Williams, Davis, Maddock.

Referee: Steve Lander