Recap

CANTERBURY 7 SALE 27.

Spurred on by their first win of the season last week, Sale made the long trip to a sunny but windy Canterbury.

Despite Sale scoring the only try of the first half, the home side were certainly the better team but Sale grabbed the initiative with two tries in the first ten minutes of the second half and ended up convincing winners.

The opening score came on the fifteenth minute mark following a well rehearsed catch and drive from Sale allowing flanker Teddy Leatherbarrow to dive over. The gusty conditions made any kick difficult and Chris Johnson’s attempted conversion drifted wide.

Canterbury dominated the remainder of the first half but, lacked the ability to turn good positions into points.

All credit to dogs as they punished early mistakes by the home side to extend their lead within three minutes of the restart.

Canterbury spilled the ball in midfield and Sale quickly moved the ball out wide with Fergus Mulchrone making space for Paddy Ah Van to score in the corner. Chris Johnson’s attempted conversation again became a victim of the swirling condition.

Sale then moved fifteen points clear through a lovely piece of individual skill. There seemed no danger as Best cleared the home side lines but his kick was fielded on the half way line by Jonty Rawcliffe who stepped to his left, fooled the defence and opened the path for a Jeremy To’a try.

The momentum was now all with the away side and they pressed it home with a fourth, bonus point score.

Canterbury were penalised for a high tackle and following a kick to the corner. Hooker Ollie Longmore made no mistake from a powerful catch and drive. Johnson’s kick was again shy of the target.

The home side finally breached the watertight Sale defence with a patient series of forward pick and drives and a Charlie Connolly try which was converted by Best.

Hopes of a late recovery for the home side however never looked like materialising and Sale emphasised their dominance when scrum half Raffie Quirke found the blind side of a scrum unguarded to run in a debut try which left Chris Johnson the easiest of his conversion kicks.