Redpath proves class as Sharks bite back
THE small margins in sport. As much as these last two weeks have been thoroughly satisfactory for a youthful Sale outfit, Saracens will quite rightly feel aggrieved that their efforts over the same period have not been rewarded.
The opening rounds of the Anglo-Welsh Cup have yielded little return for a side who have, at times, overwhelmed their opponents, but for once whose basics have let them down.
The foundations which the Londoners pride themselves on – set-piece and defence – were instead present in Sale’s armoury.
Much of this inexperienced Sarries team that started the encounter on Friday night will go on to have fine professional careers, so it is to Sale’s credit that they have begun the competition with successive victories.
The win also hints at what is to come with Cameron Redpath, Ben Curry and Curtis Langdon all producing remarkably mature performances.
While Curry’s quality is already obvious, Redpath – son of ex-Scotland scrumhalf Bryan – also appears destined for greater honours. Adept at either centre or fly-half, the 17-year-old showed impressive nous to step into the breach vacated by AJ MacGinty, whose yellow card left the hosts shorn of their pivot for 10 minutes.
“It was a big task for him,” Sale coach Paul Deacon said. “He had to go in at 10 and I thought he really showed how good he could be. He’s definitely one player to look out for in the future.
“The young kids did not look out of place. They all know the game, they all can talk and they’re not shy lads, but they’re not overconfident either. They’re grounded and I thought that showed in their performance.”
Saracens had controlled much of the first period and were on top following MacGinty’s sin-binning. Max Malins, alongside fellow half-back Tom Whiteley, dominated the territorial battle, before the interval seemed to stall their momentum.
Malins kicked four penalties in the first half and converted Will Skelton’s short-range try, but the Sharks retained hope via Ben Curry’s score and two MacGinty three-pointers.
Roles duly reversed in the final 35 minutes. The experience of MacGinty and Will Cliff put Sale on the front foot and the previously nerveless Whiteley Malins combination began to make mistakes.
As a result, the hosts dominated. Cliff was the first to benefit from Sarries’ errors, kicking the Sharks to within three points, before Alexandru Tarus barrelled over.
The visiting stand-off regained his composure to take the Londoners back ahead, but they would leave frustrated as MacGinty and Mike Haley secured the win for Deacon’s men.
“I’m disappointed,” Sarries’ coach Adam Powell said. “In the first half we did a lot of good things... but we started the second half with three penalties against us, which gave the momentum to Sale.
“We probably lost it a bit in the lineout, which meant we couldn’t quite capitalise on field position.. .and we just let the game slip away from us slightly.”