Sale Senior Colts V Stoke Senior Colts 20th November 2016

Sale Senior Colts vs Stoke Senior Colts

 

After a good win in their previous game Sale were looking forward to their first home game in conference A against a Stoke side with several players returning after county duty.

Sale started well, immediately reclaiming the ball from the Sale kick-off and went on the attacked.  Stoke were penalised at the ruck as they attempted to slow the Sale momentum and Sale kicked for the corner.  From the resulting lineout Sale drove the ball well but were stopped a metre from the line, but Sale 8, Cairan Booth, broke off to drive the final metre for Sale’s first try after only 2 mins.  Try converted by Ramsey.

Within minutes Sale were back on the attacked with a break down their left after good handling.  From a quick ruck Rob Smith darted down the blind side making 40 metres before being caught in the Stoke 22m.  Good tracking by Dunne and Hoye resulted in another quick ruck and Sale moved the ball through several pairs of hands to Cairan Booth wide on the right, who beat the last defender to score his and Sale’s 2nd try.  Try converted by Ramsey.

Sale were now in the ascendancy and spent long periods in the opposition 22m but some excellent Stoke defence saw Sale repelled time and again.  However, the constant pressure eventually told and from a ruck 5m out the ball was moved blind to Hoye, who dived over in the corner to score on 31 mins. Conversion missed.

Half Time: Sale 19 – Stoke 0

The 2nd half started similar to the 1st with Sale having the better of the play, but after several changes at half-time the game didn’t have the same continuity.  Sale had most of the possession and territory but mistakes meant they didn’t build any consistent pressure on the opposition.  Stoke continued to defence well and with ball used their pack well to gain territory and put Sale under pressure at times.  But with turnovers a plenty neither team could exert any authority.  On 55 mins from a ruck just outside the Stoke 22m the ball shot out quickly and was popped up the Sale scrum half Egan, who darted through a gap close to the ruck beating 1 defender before racing over the line to score Sale’s 4th try.  Try converted by Ramsey.

In the final 10 minutes Stoke had most of the possession but Sale, despite a comfortable lead, did not want to concede and defended well to keep Stoke at bay.

Final Score: Sale 26 – Stoke 0

Man of the Match: Tom Jones.