Sale back on top in pre-season action
SALE banished the issues which dogged their display a week ago to claim victory in the reverse fixture against Sedgley Park.
The National One outfit went down to a 21-17 defeat seven days ago but from the off it was clear the visitors were here not only to step up their preparations for the coming campaign, but also to right last week’s defeat.
However, it was Sedge who had first blood when hooker Matt Gallagher dotted down after two minutes.
But Sale soon took the upper hand with some outstanding and dominant forward play and replied quickly when scrum half Matt Bradley went over.
Sale’s set-piece began to grind Tigers down and their efforts were rewarded with two well-taken forward tries when Sale’s No.8 Jake Baron went over after 15 minutes, followed by Rhys Davies. Chris Johnson went three from three off the tee as the visitors took a 21-7 lead into the break.
The second 40 saw both coaches ring the changes and it was Sale who had the tactical advantage again with more of the same dominant forward play, aided by the fact they were playing down the Park Lane slope.
The pressure was always going to turn into points, and so it did as Sale went on to run in three more tries from Rhys Davies, Ollie Longmore and Callan Morris.
Head coaches of the two sides, Matt Bebbington and Andy Hughes, ensured the benches were fully utilised and in the final ten minutes of the game it was Sedge who gained the ascendancy, as they started to take control with a spirited fight back that saw the final try of the game going to the home side.
Try as they did to close the gap the Tigers hit a brick wall as Sale had too much organisation and were able to keep the home side at bay, and share the bragging rights in Manchester after honours were kept even over the course of the two games.
For both sets of supporters who attended the games in large numbers it was a long time coming but well worth the wait.