Sharks season is over after defeat
SALE may have five Aviva Premiership fixtures remaining this season, but after this defeat to Northampton Saints, their campaign is effectively over.
A bonus point victory would have seen the Sharks move level on points with ninth-placed Gloucester and join the chasing pack for the top six.
Instead, the Saints got the bonus point win, leaving Sale languishing in 10th, realistically safe from relegation but almost certainly out of the running for Champions Cup qualifying, especially given their tough run-in.
Josh Charnley finally scored his first try for the club, but Sale couldn’t respond to four scores from Northampton
Director of rugby Steve Diamond said: “Stephen Myler gave us a masterclass in how to keep us in our own half and we couldn’t deal with it. We didn’t convert anything and Northampton were very good at keeping us out.”
Sale started well, however, they couldn’t edge themselves in front despite multiple line-outs deep inside Northampton territory.
Denny Solomona threatened to keep up his remarkable try-scoring record since switching codes, but the ball went dead before he could land on his own kick through.
Inevitably, Saints made Sale pay for not making the most of their early pressure on one of their first ventures into the Sharks’ half.
A high bomb caused issues down the left and the ball was eventually switched to the other wing for Ken Pisi to score.
And Northampton soon had their second try as Michael Paterson stretched over in a sea of bodies and Myler converted for a 12-0 lead.
Sale got back into the game almost instantly as Charnley touched down, diving onto Mike Haley’s grubber.
But the Sharks gave away a penalty from the restart and Myler added a three-pointer.
Sale were their own worst enemies at the start of the second half as a promising attack came to an end with a knock-on before they gifted Saints even more territory by being offside.
And Mike Haywood went over from a driving maul for Northampton’s third try a minute later with Myler’s conversion making it 22-7.
Myler added another three moments later as Sale’s second half struggles continued with another penalty.
Bryn Evans charged over after Sale captain Josh Beaumont had gone close to give the Sharks hope of picking up something from the game with 11 minutes to go.
Instead of gaining a losing bonus point, however, Sale saw Northampton pick up an extra point with their fourth try through Ethan Waller in overtime.