Connacht crushed by awesome Ashton’s treble

CONNACHT’S Challenge Cup hopes took a battering from Chris Ashton as the England winger marked his debut for Sale with a hat-trick.

He scored a key try before the break and then Sale took control after the restart and closed out the bonus-point win which leaves them in charge of the pool.

Academy player Conor Fitzgerald (21) slotted a second-minute penalty after his break through the middle forced Faf de Klerk to deliberately knock-on, earning the Springbok 10 minutes in the bin. Sale Connacht Bordeaux Perpignan 2 2 2 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 1

LFA0 75 37 1 3544 1 35 47 1 4966 10 4 2 2

Fitzgerald added a second penalty before Sale eventually settled in a scrappy opening half and De Klerk tied the match after 27 minutes with two penalties.

But Connacht showed plenty of ambition and were rewarded when Shane Delahunt got over in the right corner. Fitzgerald added the touchline conversion.

However, a sloppy turnover in a good attacking position saw Sale counter from deep and Ashton put on the burners to score in the right corner, with De Klerk’s excellent conversion levelling.

Sale took charge after the restart and were ruthless. They turned over a Connacht scrum in midfield and when a failed clearance was followed by a knock-on by Tiernan O’Halloran, Sale had their chance — No 8 Josh Beaumont bursting over from the base of the scrum.

The conversion by De Klerk made it 20-13 after 54 minutes and three minutes later it was game over when Ashton tapped a penalty and touched down.

He sealed the bonus point and rubbed salt in the Connacht wound by swan-diving over 16 minutes from time just when it seemed Connacht were about to score and get back in the contest.