Recap
Superb Sale overcome high-flying Richmond
Sale headed back to Heywood Road for the first time since mid-December looking to find form against league leaders, Richmond, after six straight defeats.
Matters got off to the worst possible start for the hosts as the visitors scored within 90 seconds as a two on one break out wide was ruthlessly punished by scrum half, Alex Schwarz. 0-5
Sale reduced the arrears just two minutes later with a penalty from fly half, James Robins and then surged in front after a quick-thinking tap penalty on halfway saw winger, Tom Walsh sear through a gap to score; Robins added the extras. 10-5
Back came the Londoners with a period of pressure resulting in centre, Ellis Rudder, creeping through a gap to dot down under the sticks; Callum Grieve made no mistake with the kick. 10-12
Grieve extended the lead with a penalty from around 25m but the visitors then lost lock, George Nugent, to a yellow card for taking out the flying Walsh. This led to the Dogs bombarding the try line, eventually breaching the defence through prop, Alfie Longstaff; Robins eased the conversion over. 17-15
With three minutes to play in the first half, Sale were penalised for not releasing and Grieve gave the away side a slim lead at the break with a successful kick. HT 17-18
The home side came out firing in the second 40 and retook the lead within 5 minutes when prop, Ciaran Parker, charged down an attempted clearance and Longstaff latched onto the loose ball to speed away to the corner. 22-18
In the 48th minute, Longstaff rounded off a fine all-round performance when he cut away from the back of a strong driving maul to dive over for his hat-trick. 27-18
Despite Richmond’s best endeavours, a mixture of mistakes and strong defence from the Dogs limited the visitors to very few chances and Sale sealed victory in the 74th minute when they moved the ball wide at pace for Walsh to grab his second. FT 32-18
Performances of late have not resulted in the desired results, but this will be a moral-boosting win for the boys who proved they can compete with the very best on their day.
5 | 0 |
2 | 0 |
1 | 0 |
0 | 0 |
Timeline
James Robins | 6' | |
Tom Walsh | 7' | |
James Robins | 8' | |
Alfie Longstaff | 29' | |
James Robins | 30' | |
Alfie Longstaff | 44' | |
Alfie Longstaff | 50' | |
Ciaran Parker Jake Pope |
59' | |
Ciaran Booth Cal Ford |
59' | |
Alfie Longstaff Josh Brown |
61' | |
Evan Mintern Huw Davies |
66' | |
Joe Green Sean Street |
72' | |
Tom Walsh | 74' |
Past Meetings
Programme
Date | Time | League | Season | Full Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
25th January 2025 | 14:30 | National One | 2024-2025 | 80' |
Venue
Sale FC |
---|
Heywood Road, Brooklands, Sale, Trafford, Greater Manchester, North West England, England, M33 3WB, United Kingdom |