Sale slip up again in face of French end-game
SALE Sharks surrendered a 14-point lead in the final 15 minutes as they were beaten by Top 14 leaders Lyon.
Sharks, who drew with Toulouse in their opening Pool 2 tie, held a 14-10 halftime advantage at Stade de Gerland, with wing Denny Solomona and centre Sam James exchanging tries with former England man Delon Armitage.
James crossed for another try with 15 minutes remaining to put Sale in control at 24-10.
However, Liam Gill and Theo Belan made it 24-24, before Frederic Michalak’s late penalty completed the turnaround.
The result means that, despite having led in the closing stages against French opposition for two weeks running, Sale have only three points from their first two European matches.
But with a double-header against Cardiff to come, Sale are still in the reckoning in terms of qualification.
It was a cruel end to a match in which Sale had combined ferocious defence with opportunism and flair in taking their tryscoring opportunities.
Lyon fly-half Lionel Beauxis opened the scoring for the hosts with a fifth minute penalty before Sale hit back in stunning fashion four minutes later.
England winger Solomona again showed his predatory instincts as he gobbled up a Lyon interception deep in Sale territory before then powering more than 60 metres upfield to score a sensational try. Skipper Faf de Klerk converted.
The Sharks struck again ten minutes later with another clinical score. Centre Mark Jennings was the architect – his bulldozing run prising open a hole in the Lyon defence before he fed fellow centre James to run in under the posts.
The hosts finally breached the Sharks defence just past the half hour, when Armitage touched down out wide after a series of forward drives.
Sharks dug deep after half-time to repel a barrage of attacks and then hit back through James, who intercepted and raced in from 50 metres.
De Klerk converted again and added a penalty to move Sale two scores clear, but Lyon would not go quietly. Liam Gill burrowed his way over and centre Theo Belan followed him minutes later.
Michalak’s conversion levelled the scores and then the veteran former France fly-half held his nerve to drill over a 75th minute penalty after Sale were adjudged offside to win the game.