Magic MacGinty helps Sharks find their edge
ALEX Sanderson got the perfect riposte from his Sale Sharks after “some honest chats” in the week with a sharp and aggressive display finished by a try from skipper Jono Ross.
On a night when the weather was a crucial factor, the magic of playmaker AJ MacGinty returning alongside several experienced hands proved critical for Sale.
MacGinty crafted through the swirling wind and rain with perfection, his crossfield kick setting up Marland Yarde for the second try before he had a hand in Ross’ final score.
Despite Northampton being dominant in the scrum, the Midlanders looked like a team tired, out of ideas and overpowered in the loose with some key figures missing.
Sale director of rugby Sanderson said: “We exorcised a few demons today. You can’t do too much in terms of game play in the week but there was some honesty at the start of the week that transferred into some physicality at the end of it.
“Last week at Worcester was a bit of a slip, and there was a lack of a hunger from us but the boys that came back in, MacGinty, Byron McGuigan and Simon Hammersley, these lads gave us that extra experience we needed.
“After a big loss you turn to those lads who have come through it before and they’ve stepped up.
“AJ was magic, he was in such a good flow – we haven’t seen enough of him this season and that’s been part of our problem, he’s the finished article and he got into the groove that picks everyone else up.”
With both teams suffering defeats to Worcester and Leicester last week, they each made wholesale changes – Sale six and Northampton eight – which led to a fast start to the game despite
the conditions. An infringement by Ben Curry allowed James Grayson to give Saints an early lead but within three minutes Sharks had driven the ball downfield, got a 5m lineout and showed why they’ve got the best lineout in the league, Curry and Akker van der Merwe linking up for the hooker to score in the corner.
Sale nearly increased their score when scrumhalf Gus Warr chipped wide to Yarde but the former England wing was put into touch.
Sharks had almost all
the territory in the first half, with MacGinty pulling the strings and the back row being dominant but they couldn’t get another try. Sale had to make do with two penalty kicks, first after Grayson obstructed, and then when Wilkins was caught not rolling away.
Grayson narrowed the score after Sam James knocked on but Sale got their reward just after halftime when Curry and Dan du Preez charged through after a lineout and MacGinty chipped wide for Yarde to dot down.
JP du Preez then stole a Saints lineout but Sharks couldn’t finish. And after Northampton spent more than ten minutes failing to break Sale’s defensive brick wall, and Grayson missed twice off the tee, the game had an air of finality about it.
MacGinty scored after a high tackle from Emmanuel Iyogun ended Coenie Oosthuizen’s night, and with Sharks dominating territory he then sent a perfect delayed pass to Luke James who set up Ross in the corner in the final play.