Sale Sharks get season off to winning ways in league opener

Sale Sharks held off a late Northampton Saints fightback to win 20-15 in their Gallagher Premiership opener at the AJ Bell Stadium.

The hosts were behind after three minutes when Tommy Freeman went over for the Saints but three tries by Tom Roebuck, Tom O’Flaherty and Ethan Caine before the break put Sale 20-10 up at the break.

Northampton scored through James Ramm to cut the deficit to five points with ten minutes to go but it wasn’t enough for the travelling Saints who haven’t won in Salford since 2017.

The Saints took the lead within the first three minutes when flying winger Tommy Freeman went over in the corner. After a TMO review the try was given. The try was created by the quick thinking of number nine Tom James who took a penalty quickly to catch Sale on the backfoot. Fin Smith added the extras to give Northampton the perfect start in Salford.

Sale drew level three minutes later when opposing number 14 Tom Roebuck replicated Freeman’s flying finish with one of his own following a brilliant pass out to him by Rob Du Preez. South African Rob Du Preez converted the try with a brilliant kick from the touchline.

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The hosts extended their lead in the 12^th minute when Roebuck’s fellow winger Tom O’Flaherty got his first try of the new season. After backing themselves, kicking a penalty to the corner, Sale unleashed their backline off the lineout with O’Flaherty receiving the ball in space on the left to go over in the corner.

Saints responded to Sale’s quickfire double with a period of dominance, which led to a penalty but Smith couldn’t convert for the visitors to add to their first-half misery. Smith made up for the missed kicks a few minutes later when he successfully kicked over a penalty to cut Sale’s lead to two points.

Sale regained their five points lead four minutes before the break when Rob Du Preez slotted a penalty over from in front of the posts. Two minutes later Sale were over the whitewash once again through substitute Ethan Caine. The hooker dove over from a rolling maul to bag Sale’s third try of the match. Du Preez couldn’t add the extras meaning Sale took a ten point lead into the interval.

The Saints looked to be away four minutes after the half-time oranges when Smith was breaking over halfway but his pass inside went forward stopping his side’s counter attack. Tempers flared in the 55^th minute between the two sides, after a stop start beginning to the second 40.

Saints continued to pile pressure on the hosts with Smith attempting a cross field kick to substitute Tom Seabrook on the left but it was just out of the reach of the former Gloucester man.

Sale thought they had their bonus point try in the 68^th minute when O’Flaherty dived over in the left corner but the winger was deemed to be in touch by the assistant referee. The Saints halved the deficit a minute later when a high ball in the midfield wasn’t dealt with by Sale leading to Alex Coles having a two on one, which he executed perfectly to unleash Ramm, who cantered in from 40 yards.

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Saints looked to be building towards a late winning try in the 80^th minute when they were five metres out and a man up after Rob Du Preez was sin binned for persistent offences in the red area, but Sale held out with a brilliant defensive set to win the game and come away with four points from the opening match of the season.

Sale Sharks XV:

Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Sam James, 12. Sam Bedlow, 11. Tom O’Flaherty, 10. Rob du Preez ©, 9. Raffi Quirke; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Tommy Taylor, 3. Nick Schonert, 4. Ernst van Rhyn, 5. Jonny Hill, 6. JL du Preez, 7. Sam Dugdale, 8. Dan du Preez.

Replacements: 

Ethan Caine, 17. Ross Harrison, 18. James Harper, 19. Cobus Wiese, 20. Josh Beaumont, 21. Gus Warr, 22. Tom Curtis, 23. Arron Reed.

Northampton Saints XV:

George Hendy, 14. Tommy Freeman, 13. Fraser Dingwall © 12. Rory Hutchinson 11. James Ramm 10. Fin Smith 9. Tom James 1. Ethan Waller 2. Curtis Langdon 3. Trevor Davison 4. Alex Moon 5. Alex Coles 6. Angus Scott-Young 7. Tom Pearson 8. Sam Graham

Replacements: