Battered Langdon provides late KO
CURTIS Langdon proved there were no after-effects from the challenge which saw Exeter captain Jack Yeandle sent off as the Sale hooker scored a second-half match-winning try.
A week after the Premiership saw five dismissals over a round of fixtures, Yeandle was shown a red card in the 26th minute after his shoulder connected with Langdon’s head as he cleared out a ruck.
Although Sam Simmonds’ 12th Premiership try of the season put Exeter ahead early in the second half, Langdon showed impressive strength to engineer a route over the line in the 67th minute to settle matters.
Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson said: “Curtis has got better and better and took his try really well.
“He told me in the week there was more in him and he showed that tonight. I’m really chuffed for him.”
Exeter counterpart Rob Baxter said of Yeandle’s dismissal: “We were told it was a shoulder to the head and I can’t say I’ve got any complaints.
“But I was pleased with the character we showed and a bonus point away in the Premiership is pretty good anyway.
“To do it with 14 men for the best part of an hour is even better, although I’m still frustrated with some individual things.”
Sale conjured a delightful early opener when scrum-half Faf de Klerk threw an exquisite pass out to send Byron McGuigan over the line in the right corner against his former club.
Yet if that was pleasing on the eye, it was nothing compared to the quite brilliant try which Exeter scored four minutes later through Facundo Cordero.
The diminutive Argentinian wing, 22, collected possession in midfield from Joe Simmonds following a lineout on the right flank. Cordero showed remarkable speed and skill to dash into Sale’s 22-metre line and through a clutch of leaden-footed home defenders before diving under the posts.
Joe Simmonds converted to put Exeter in front before they claimed a second try in the 23rd minute through lock Sean Lonsdale following another well-worked lineout and powerful maul.
In the 25th minute, Sale captain Jono Ross was shown a yellow card by referee Karl Dickson after tackling Sam Skinner in the air.
Moments later, Exeter were reduced to 14 men when Yeandle was dismissed after his shoulder connected with fellow hooker Langdon’s head.
The hosts moved through the gears and were not to be denied as the interval approached as promising young loosehead prop Bevan Rodd powered over the line from close range with assistance from Daniel du Preez.
It was the Sale academy graduate’s first try for the club but, nine minutes into the second half, Sam Simmonds was on hand to sneak down the blindside from a maul and over the line in the left corner.
Sale thought they had scored shortly before the hour when AJ MacGinty scampered over the line, only for it to be disallowed for crossing.
But they were not to be denied in the final quarter and incessant pressure led to Langdon bursting over in the left channel to secure the win amid raucous celebrations.