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Worcester 13 Sale 25
By Bankshark October 12 2006
Sale supporters look forward to a trip to Sixways, despite the motorway traffic. Games against Worcester tend to be exciting, high-scoring affairs. Would this game maintain the standard? Bankshark buckles on his cuirass and tightens his baldric ready for the fray.

After Sunday and Saturday afternoon games, which seemed to me to lack a little atmosphere, it was off to Sixways ( Junction 6 of the M5 ! ) on the fun bus, and very nice too. Local Derby ?!? I’m not certain, but with Leeds now gone, I think Worcester is our nearest premiership team.

Arriving in plenty of time, I had a wander around the inside of the ground – which was looking in very good nick. Munching a bacon roll, £2.80, washed down with a pint of bitter, £2.45, good prices compared to some !!, I arrived at the players’ entrance. First player out was Charlie looking very lively. After a quick chat to Robbie about our chances, I returned to the other side of the ground to watch the warm-up, reflecting that last season the teams had shared 9 tries – 6 to 3 in our favour.

My first disappointment was when I realised Steve Hanley wasn’t on the pitch, a late withdrawal with a groin problem. Less surprising was the absence of Seabass, but the back row still looked very useful. :>) Ben Foden played left wing.

Nothing disappointing about the first half hour though as Sale played like the champions they are. It was pressure all the way and CH kicked his 12th from 12 for the first 3 points. But it was to be thirteenth time unlucky, as with a swirling wind, a long range effort from in front of the posts, just went wide. Worcester’s only points in the 1st half were to be from a Shane Drahm penalty. Jason White, the Scottish captain, was back in the Sale back row and sucking in defenders with some barging good runs, and after one at the end of the 1st quarter, the ball went wide to Charlie. His excellent chip ahead to just over the try line had 3 Sale players trying to get there before the 1 Worcester defender. Chris Bell was quickest, for his first touch-down for his new club; with many more to come we all hope. CH missed the conversion.

Unfortunately, to the best of my recollection, the kicking out of hand for the rest of the game was very sad; straight down the throats of their wingers and fullback! But the second try wasn’t long in coming. This time, from our very impressive pack, it was Sherri and Lobbe the younger, who created the holes and Jason White thumped his way over between the posts; easy conversion. It was one-way traffic and thoughts of 1st half try bonus flashed through my head, silly me. The last 10 minutes went by quietly and we were 15-3 up at half-time.

The props had been fine, Turner replacing Stewart in the 2nd half, Bruno had another good game, but the most pleasing aspect for me was that Jonesy and Daisy more than held their own in the 2nd row and of course the back row is the back row, even without the other Sebastian. Also, there was a tremendous improvement in the defence compared to the other two matches (having leaked 7 tries!), Taylor looking very solid and Bell improving with each game. And how they needed to be good, because the opposition came storming out after the interval like they had fireworks placed somewhere in their bodies!

Worcester did score their converted try down the right wing within the first few minutes, but the final pass looked a tad forward. On the other hand Charlie’s long pass to Cuets for his late try also looked “very flat” too. With 26 minutes to go Chris Jones got yellow carded again, but this time I’ve no idea what for. Stand-off Drahm, who had been very tricky and got Man-of-the-Match according to the tannoy commentator, slotted the resulting penalty and the lead was down to 2 points 15-13.

By now the crowd were very vocal and the Friday night atmosphere was electric. 16 men against 14 . . . Prospects did not look good. BUT. The 1st half had been won with style and class – now it was time to ‘win ugly’. And that is exactly what the boyos did in the final quarter. The sending-off worked in our favour as the team knuckled down and showing great determination Worcester never looked like scoring again. Sale ground out 2 kickable penalties with Charlie making the first one, after advantage had been played and substitute David Tait was stopped inches from the try line, down the right. Then a great chance went begging down the left as a pass went behind Bell and Foden. Back to full strength by now and a converted try to end the scoring. 25-13 at full time. Our loose head had gone down in agony as the try was scored – a worrying time – but as far as I could see it was cramp and Barry came back on to replace him for the final 4 minutes.

Good possession had been kicked away in the final minute to end all hopes of a bonus try point, but it was a happy coach that flew up the traffic free M5/M6 ! Good ‘ol Bullocks’. 3 games played – 1 loss by 12 points – 2 wins by 12 points and now for the Sarries, followed by 2 cup games. This time a 7 day break between matches and a Friday night game at E.P. Without a repeat of last year’s only loss we all hope and I might get to see my namesake play some Union.

Edit to avoid 2 week thingie

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