Sale Sharks 41-13 London Irish: McGuigan the hat-trick hero as Sharks ease past Irish

Byron McGuigan’s hat-trick downed London Irish as Sale Sharks recorded a 41-13 bonus point win at the AJ Bell Stadium.

The hosts dominated from start to finish and capitalised on multiple Irish errors to score six tries and record their first bonus point win since the opening weekend.

From the first whistle Irish found themselves under pressure and were forced into conceding multiple penalties, for which they were made to pay for inside five minutes when Craig Maxwell-Keys reduced the Exiles to 14.

Theo Brophy-Clews was shown yellow for an off the ball tackle on Connor Doherty, and from the lineout, Sale released play out to Simon Hammersley who crossed for an early converted try.

Irish responded with a Paddy Jackson penalty, but with discipline proving to be their downfall, the visitors were fortunate not to be two tries behind when McGuigan looked to have grounded.

A penalty advantage resulted in a cross field kick favouring the winger, but in the process of grounding the ball, McGuigan knocked forward and Sharks were made to wait for a second try.

Irish escaped a second time when Lood de Jager’s try was ruled out for a knock on. Faf de Klerk’s initial kick forced the Exiles to defend their own line, and when attempting to kick clear, the lock charged the ball down but was unfortunate to knock on.

Despite failing to add three points from the tee, Sharks added a second try after half an hour when de Jager powered over for his third try in three games.

A fantastic run from McGuigan relieved defensive pressure, from which Sale were able to win a penalty and kick to touch. From the lineout they set up on the Irish try line and the World Cup winner crashed over.

A third was added moments later. With a penalty advantage- after an Irish high tackle- du Preez’s kick over the top was touched down by McGuigan who reacted first to the loose ball.

Dominance from Alex Sanderson’s side left Irish 16 points behind at the interval, but it could have been more had Jean-Luc du Preez try stood.

However, upon a TMO review, Sharks were denied with the final action of the half by a forward pass, meaning the scores at the break remained 19-3.

Irish started the second half brightly and reduced the point’s difference in the opening minute when Jackson scored his second penalty of the game, and minutes later, Coenie Oosthuizen was sent to the bin for a no arms tackle.

The visitors positive start to the half was undone themselves by a loose pass which was picked up by Arron Reed who sprinted clear to secure the bonus point try under the posts seven minutes after the restart.

An offside on half way allowed Irish to kick to the corner, and from the lineout, the ball was re-worked along the line and they were able to cross over.

However, in the process, the ball had been knocked forward and the visitors were denied the try.

Declan Kidney’s side were their own enemy and they conceded a fifth when McGuigan crossed for his second with 15 minutes remaining.

The winger intercepted a sloppy Exiles pass on half way, and with his pace, was able to run in unchallenged to widen Sharks’ advantage to 25.

After a rare spell inside the Sharks 22, flanker Ben Donnell managed to stretch over to score nothing more than a consolation. Jackson again added the extras with a successful kick.

Points were back and forth, and AJ MacGinty added more for Sale with his first kick since coming off the bench, although his side were reduced to 13 with five minutes to play.

First Ross Harrison was shown yellow for a forearm in the tackle, before Reed was sent to the bin after an illegal  knock on.

Nevertheless, Sharks scored a sixth when McGuigan completed his hat trick with the final play off the game.

Sale worked the ball effectively along the line before a fine Sam James offload set up the Scotsman to dive over. The conversion was added to secure a 41-13 Sale Sharks win.

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