Luke’s late show sends league leaders crashing
AFTER six Premiership wins on the bounce and last Friday’s record demolition of Bath, Bristol came back to earth with a thump.
The game was a far cry from last week’s thriller as Bristol were frustrated throughout by their opponents, who out-smarted them with a display full of grit and determination.
Sale illustrated that there was to be no change in their DNA following the appointment of Saracens coach Alex Sanderson as their director of rugby following Steve Diamond’s departure.
Sanderson said: “It’s a big win for anyone down here with the way Bristol are playing.
“It’s massive for the boys as we will take confidence from the way we competed in the arm wrestle in the final 20 minutes but it’s still early days.
“I’ll enjoy it but I’m not going to get carried away. A new team gets a spike in energy from a different voice. You see it in all sports but the true test will be in two months.”
Despite the defeat, Bristol remain top of the league table but they will be concerned at the loss.
Without the attacking talents of Semi Radradra, out for eight weeks with a knee problem, Luke Morahan and Harry Randall they looked bereft of ideas.
However they can take heart from committed performances from John Afoa and Dave Attwood up front, but the loss of skipper Steven Luatua to a calf twinge in the warm-up was keenly felt.
Before the match kicked off there was a minute’s silence for former Bristol, England and British Lions hooker John Pullin who, following a long illness, passed away at the age of 79 on Friday.
The opening 15 minutes were fiercely contested before Sale suffered a setback when their captain Jono Ross was yellow carded for pulling down Nathan Hughes in the lineed out and Bristol immediately capitalised with Brian Byrne driving over from the next lineout.
AJ MacGinty kicked three penalties in quick succession to put Sale in front but a minute before the interval Bristol had the chance to regain the initiative.
However, instead of taking the kickable penalty, they opted for a driving lineout but couldn’t make it count so Sale held a 9-7 interval lead.
Three minutes after the restart, Sale nearly extendthat advantage when Curtis Langdon burst away from a lineout on halfway. He was tackled but the ball was recycled for Faf de Klerk to run strongly before feeding winger Byron McGuigan who was dragged down inches short.
With the game still in the balance, Sale made the surprising decision to take off the outstanding De Klerk.
Sanderson explained: “I had to show faith in the boys and faith in the rotation system we are trying to use. What do we do when we don’t have Faf available?”
MacGinty kicked a fourth penalty before Lloyd hit back with two to put Bristol in the driving seat, but Sale weren’t to be denied.
A strong run from replacement back row Sam Dugdale took Sharks into the opposition 22 before a well-judged pass from McGinty gave Luke James an easy run-in. MacGinty missed the conversion but succeeded with a last minute penalty to seal victory.