‘Homophobic slur’ claim mars slick Sale’s eight-try rampage
It’s never dull at Sale. The home team swept to an excellent victory by eight tries to three and then had to fend off allegations about homophobic remarks reported by Worcester fly-half Jamie Shillcock to referee Andrew Jackson.
The official did not take action in the 55th minute and told Shillcock he would leave it to the match-day citing officer. The exchange between official and player was picked up on the stadium referee’s link which is available to the public, but the remarks between rival players were not picked up.
Afterwards, both coaches refused to comment on the fall-out, which forced the referee to stop the match, and said they were not aware of the remarks.
“There’s a very good citing process in place, and I think we will leave it to him,” said Alan Solomons, Worcester’s director of rugby,
Steve Diamond, his Sale opposite number, was equally non-committal about the row but wants the citing officer to look at a dangerous challenge by Worcester flanker Alafoti Faosiliva on Ben Curry in the 28th minute.
“Maybe the citing officer will look at that, but as for a homophobic slur or anything like that I’ve not heard anything, no,” said Diamond.
Sale’s England back-line contenders Denny Solomona and Marland Yarde are thriving out wide, and both contributed first-half tries alongside one each from Faf de Klerk and Curry.
Josh Adams raced away for a Worcester try after intercepting de Klerk’s pass on halfway for a try immediately after the break, but Sale regrouped through tries by Mike Haley, the fullback, No8 Josh Strauss and Scotland wing Byron McGuigan.
The rout was completed by an eighth try, four minutes from time, when James O’Connor, a first-half substitute for Will Addison, bustled his way over.
Curry rounded off the first try in the second minute, scampering on to Bryn Evans’ nimble pass which completed a quick move from midfield. AJ MacGinty converted from the left touchline. The second, five minutes later, showed Sale’s attacking intent after turning over Worcester near their own try line. This collective burglary triggered a length-of-pitch move ending in de Klerk, the scrum-half, scoring after some excellent linking play by Yarde and Haley.
MacGinty’s 14th-minute penalty rammed home the advantage at 15-0. Shillcock briefly lifted Worcester by kicking his first penalty goal followed by a second in the 30th.
However, the sin-binning of lock Darren Barry for obstruction meant they were always struggling, and by half-time, the match had been settled as Yarde weaved his way out of tackle to score his second near the corner flag, and Solomona then scooted over. MacGinty converted both tries to give Sale a 29-6 lead at half-time.
Despite Adams’ quick try, Sale kept firm control through four more tries in the second half.
Haley and McGuigan raced in from long-distance, while Strauss and O’Connor wrestled their way over from closer attacks. Worcester grabbed a third from centre Jackson Willison.