Category: NCA Rugby

Season Finale Sat 27th April

This Saturday, Sale FC play against Cambridge Rugby in the season finale.

Sale FC Rugby v Cambridge – Saturday 27th April (c) Sale FC Rugby

On Saturday 27th April, Sale FC Rugby play host to Cambridge Rugby in their season finale to their first campaign in National League One.

With the blue and whites future in National League One almost certainly secured for another season, the visitors Cambridge still have it all to play for as they sit perilously above the relegation zone going into the final round of the season.

After their first meeting on the opening day of the season, where both sides played out a 36-36 draw down at Cambridge, it is sure to go down to the wire this time around with Sale FC Rugby having home advantage over their Southern opponents.

With the season drawing to a close on Saturday afternoon at the CorpAcq Stadium, it will also see post match the End of Season Awards Dinner taking place at the club, where players will receive such accolades as Player of the Season and Player’s Player of the Season. Additionally, there will also be the first awards ceremony for the 1861 Womens team.

To join in these celebrations at the club on Saturday evening contact Functions Manager here for your tickets. Tickets for the event are priced at £10 per person.

Admission for the game on Saturday is as follows: Adults £10, Concessions £8 and Children U16 FREE.

For more information about the game this Saturday please keep an eye on the club website and social media for more details.

Johnny Leota: My National One experience.

Johnny Leota (c) John Marfleet/Sale FC Squad Pictures 2018/19

With Johnny Leota being an integral part of the Sale FC Rugby squad this season during our first season in National League One, and being a member of the Sale Sharks squad too.

Talking Rugby Union caught up with Johnny Leota to find out about his time in National League One with the blue and whites, and also life after rugby including Johnny gaining a degree in Business Leadership and Management.

To read more about Johnny’s National League One experiences and also his first column for Talking Rugby Union please follow the link here

Taylor at the double for England Students.

Christian Taylor is named once again in the starting line up for England Students.

Christian Taylor (c) Sale FC Rugby 2018/19

On Good Friday, England Students will be playing against their French University counterparts in the return leg of their double header in Bordeaux.

After last Sunday’s historic victory over the French Students at Chester Rugby Club, where the England Students beat their French opponents by 27 points to 17, in what was their first victory in 10 years, their attentions now turn to the return fixture in Bordeaux.

Head Coach Darren Fearn (also Head of Rugby at Northumbria University) has named the following players in his team for tomorrow’s game.

In the starting line up is Sale FC Rugby and Manchester Metropolitan’s Hooker Christian Taylor, who “performed brilliantly” said Fearn after speaking about the victory last Sunday.

England Students Team to face French Universities in Bordeaux.

The game will be played at the Stade Gilbert Santiago on Good Friday (7.30pm Kick Off – French Time) with it being covered on the @StudentsRFU Instagram, Twitter and Facebook like they did last Sunday from Chester Rugby.

The club would like to wish Christian and his England Students team mates well over in Bordeaux, and hope that they can do the double over their French opponents in what will surely be a hostile environment in the South West of France tomorrow evening.

To read more about England Students performance in Chester last Sunday please follow the link here courtesy of Talking Rugby Union.

Ampthill 57 Sale FC 12

Amps Dominate Sale Outscoring The Visitors nine tries to two at Dillingham Park writes Warren Kay, Ampthill Senior Rugby Publicity Officer

Neil Briggs throwing in at the lineout to Sale Captain Andy Hughes (c) Ampthill Rugby

After going behind to an early try Ampthill dominated the game scoring 9 tries and leaving several more on the park.

From the kick off Sale retained the ball well showing good structure to move the ball deep into Amps territory. A sweeping move through the hands from left to right saw a fine unconverted try scored in the right corner on 5 minutes by centre Moorhouse.

A’s took the game away from the visitors with 5 tries before half time. Wing Sam Baker scored a brace with two good finishes (8 minutes, 16) from open play. Scrum half Kevin Barrett sniped on 21 minutes from a red zone breakdown before Baker celebrated his hat trick on 25 minutes. Centre Ollie Morris to completed the scoring for the half after he was in support to receive the final pass in the 38th minute. Full back James Pritchard, playing the penultimate game of his illustrious 19 year career, converted all Baker’s tries leaving the score 31-5 at oranges.

The second half was more of the same with the home side adding 4 more tries through fly half Josh Sharp (47, 75), replacement hooker Syd Blackmore (51) and replacement scrum half Euan McKirdy (73). Pritchard adding the extras for all but Blackmore’s.

In between the 57th minute saw a fine try from Sale’s centre Dunn, converted by fly half Povey.

The hosts were in control in the tight and the loose while the defence held a concerted second half effort from the visitors whose heads never dropped.

Old Elthamians managed a bonus point win away at Bishop’s Stortford which forces the title fight to go down to the wire of the last round of fixtures. Ampthill need 1pt against Loughborough on April 27th to secure promotion to the Championship!

Head Coach Paul Turner comments “A pleasing performance, especially after the poor second half at Moseley the week before. We played some good football against a committed side but let a chance or two go begging. Our defence was good in the second half and both half backs had excellent games.”

Ampthill
Tries:- Baker (8,16,25), Barrett (21), Morris (38), Sharp (47, 75), Blackmore (51), McKirdy (73)
Conversions:- Pritchard (9, 17, 26, 48, 74, 76)

Sale
Tries:- Moorhouse (5), Dunn (57)
Conversions:- Povey (58)

Half Time:- Ampthill 31 Sale 5
Referee:- Mr James Clarke
Attendance:- 882
Man of the Match:- Josh Sharp, Ampthill

Sale FC 31 Plymouth Albion 22

Sale FC Rugby almost certainly seal their place in National League One with a solid five point display against their Devonian visitors.

Try Scorer Neil Briggs scoring the bonus point try (c) Mark Ferriss Photography

Sale FC secured their place in National League One for a second season with a hard-fought win over Plymouth Albion at the CorpAcq Stadium on Saturday.

Both teams found difficulty in establishing a rhythm in the opening minutes, Sale scoring first on 12 minutes following a break by winger Paolo Odogwu whose powerful run was halted by a somewhat cynical high tackle by Plymouth full back Dan Powell.

The resulting penalty was skillfully dispatched into touch close to the corner flag by fly half Emiliano Calle Rivas and from the resulting line out, Sale drove to the line, Stone Priestley – Nangle scoring the opening try.

Within 2 minutes Plymouth full back Dan Powell found space to run clear and level the scores. Sale quickly re-established a slender lead with a Calle Rivas penalty on 15 minutes.

The two sides effectively cancelled each other out during the next period of play until Plymouth gained the advantage following a sustained attack which culminated in the unlikely figure of prop forward James Kenny appearing in the back line and finding a large enough gap in the Sale defence to slip through and score.

The try was converted by fly half Connor Eastgate.

Having edged ahead, the visitors were unable to retain the lead for long as Sale winger Odogwu created space for himself to break clear and sprint 70 metres to score under the posts. Calle Rivas added the extra points.

With just one minute to play before half time, Plymouth regained the lead with a try by Eastgate to give the away team a slender 17 points to 15 lead going into the second half.

A Calle Rivas penalty restored Sales lead which was extended when Robbie Povey scored with a penetrating break from 25 metres.

Robbie Povey going over for his try after bursting through the Plymouth defence (c) Mark Ferriss Photography

What might have been a pivotal moment came minutes later when Sale prop Dan Birchall was shown a red card having been adjudged to have stamped on an opponent.

The incident seemed to galvanise the home side who defended with tremendous spirit and then broke to within 5 metres of the Plymouth line.

Sale captain Andy Hughes disrupted the away team’s lineout throw, hooker Neil Briggs on hand to scoop up the ball and score giving Sale’s 14 men an 11-point cushion.

Plymouth substitute Frank Kelly reduced the deficit with a try after some slick handling by Plymouth. As the match entered the closing 10 minutes, numerical parity was established as Plymouth replacement Will Norton was shown a yellow card.

Povey was successful with his penalty kick leaving Plymouth with a 9-point gap to close.

Sale stuck manfully to their task showing tremendous spirit to close out the game and securing a bonus point win to guarantee League One rugby next season.

Sale FC celebrate Neil Briggs’ bonus point try (c) Mark Ferriss Photography

To watch the highlights from the game please use the link here