Relentless Sale keep pressure on leaders

SALE overcame Sedgley Park in a closely-fought encounter between two of the league’s best sides to ensure they keep up the pressure on league leaders, Hinckley.

The hosts, who lost the reverse fixture 24-16 back in September, were relentless on a day that saw the club unveil a new glass balcony in their main stand at Haywood Road.

And Sale director of rugby Jonathan Keep was pleased with his team’s efforts in a game that was played in difficult conditions:

“It was a game for the purists,” he told The Rugby Paper.

“We had to defend in numbers and shield our line for long periods, but we did it very well.

“It’s always pleasing to get one over a team who you’re competing with but I think both sides clearly showed why they’re so high in the league.

“I think our fitness got us over the line and we’ll be hoping to take our good form into 2018.”

Two penalties from reliable fly-half Chris Johnson fired Sale into a 6-0 lead early in the game.

The first came after a high tackle before a scrum penalty saw Park prop Simon Black sent to the sin-bin.

Sedgley Park fly-half Oli Glasse halved the deficit after 37 minutes with a sweetly-struck three-pointer, meaning the home side held a slender 6-3 lead at the interval.

Glasse then kept nerve to level the scores after the break with a touchline three-pointer, leaving the scores level heading into the final quarter of the game.

Dan Birchall eventually got the first try of the game as he finished off a powerful rolling maul from a well-worked lineout.

Johnson then converted to give the hosts a vital seven-point lead heading into the closing stages.

Their second try didn’t come long after with replacement forward Jak Barron finishing off from the back of a powerful scrum.

And fly-half Johnson converted the try to secure the win.

But Sedgley Park, who had very much been in the game, got their just reward when Sam Lowthion intercepted a cross-field kick to race in and score.

Glasse then converted the try to rescue the plucky visitors a losing bonuspoint which may prove crucial come the end of the campaign.

Sedgley first-team manager Geoff Roberts was disappointed, but gave full credit to his team for their character and the hosts’ stubborn defence in difficult conditions.

“It was a real arm wrestle out there,” he said.

“We battered their line for long periods and had some fantastic opportunities but ultimately we couldn’t get over the line.

“It's fair play to them, they took their chances and got the win but it’s easy to see why these two teams are having exceptional seasons so far.

“It’s hard to criticise my team, we worked hard right up until the final whistle.”