Playoff spot on the line this weekend

Sale FC V Stourbridge

It’s obvious, to anyone who’s watched Sale FC this season, that there’s a new attitude in the squad, a new approach and this has resulted in winning games we would have lost last season.   Much of this success, according to Sale FC Club Chairman, Steve Smith is down to the coaching team of Jonathan Keep and Tote Howcroft. They’ve created a whole club approach which has seen the team win when they might have crumbled last year.

This weekend sees a challenge for the promotion playoff spot. Currently Sale sit second in the table 11 points above Stourbridge in third.  Our nearest rivals are fiercely competitive at home and have yet to drop a match in their west midlands fortress, winning all ten of their home games so far.  Sale have managed an unbeaten 2017 and want to continue this great run of form into February and beyond.

Head Coach Jonathan Keep has been pleased with the number of our victories this season but not always how they’ve been achieved.

“I’m looking for the players to cut down on the penalties this week and focus on making

sure they’re more ruthless if we get our noses in front and not leave it to the last minute”

Sale’s last two matches have seen bonus point tries scored in the final minutes of each game. Against Luctonians Sam Stelmaszek with the last play and the following week by Adam Aigbokhae against Sheffield Tigers with two minutes on the clock remaining.

Jonathan Keep said that the players have worked hard on key areas this year including creating a solid defence when they’re camped on their own line.

“The one area we’ve worked on this year which has paid massive dividends is the defence inside the red zone.  Against Luctonians we were camped on our try line for 10 minutes and drove them back, we’ll need to have this kind of resilience this weekend if we are to come away with the points”

When asked about Sale’s promotion prospects Jonathan replied

“We will try to keep winning games and see what happens, that will always be the

priority and after just avoiding relegation next year, we take nothing for granted”

 

Good luck to Sale FC this weekend and safe travels