By Whaley Shark
January 10 2006

With a rare win at Bath, Sunday saw more West Country opposition for Sale. Expectations were high: would we get revenge for the earlier defeat? After Boxing Day’s first foray into journalism, the Whaley Shark tries to learn a new but essential skill- the art of spin...

And now, it’s the first of this season’s Premiership return fixtures, against Bristol, who sent us home without even a losing bonus at the end of November. The “autumn international” excuses don’t apply today- most players are available, and the pressure is on because Wasps have been closing the gap at the top of the Premiership. A few of the Sharks’ first choice players are rested or on the bench but, when the team is announced, we feel confident- it is a strong side.

But that’s about where the optimism ends. A slow start from the kick-off gives Bristol a kickable penalty after 2 minutes and, after some more scrappy play, Charlie cancels it with a drop goal. Both sides struggle to find coherence but our problems really start a few minutes later when a poor clearance is fielded by the Bristol scrum-half, Shaun Perry, who runs straight though scattered and disorganised defenders for a try. 8-3 down in the first 10 minutes- this doesn’t look much like a 4-try bonus! Surely we have to settle down……

Yes, well, that’s what we thought! Sale try hard but things don’t quite click- the aggressive Bristol defence just doesn’t give us enough time and even Robert Todd can’t get very far with two defenders wrapped around him. Jason Robinson has some good runs down the left wing, but we just can’t string phases together. Forward battering doesn’t work either and all we have to show for a lot of possession are three more Charlie penalties, countered by one for Bristol; 12-11 to Sale after 20 minutes.

Severe pressure from the Bristol defence continues to cause problems- kicks from hand go astray or are charged down, we fail to complete passing moves. Bristol seem particularly keen to swallow up loose kicks and run them back with real power, a foretaste of what is to come in the second half. A further exchange of penalties in this last stage gets us to half time 15-14 ahead.

Moving into the second half, things seem to get a bit better. Chabal picks up and drives from the base of a scrum, Jason White has a couple of good carries and Bristol concede a penalty- 18-14. Not only that, but the first of a procession of Bristol players is sent

to the bin- maybe their defence is just a little bit too close to the limit of the rules. The Sale forwards try a neat interpassing move, the backs have a go, Jason Robinson dances through the first line of the Bristol defence, but nothing quite works. The Bristol defenders are up so fast that the Sale backs can’t develop momentum. So, it’s time for a bit of prime, if adoptive, Cheshire beef- Epi Taione comes on for Robert Todd, and a few minutes later Sheridan and Bruno replace Faure and Titterell. After pressure on the Bristol line, Martens breaks round the side of a Sale scrum and scores. Charlie converts for 25-14.

After the restart, the Sale defence starts to play Bristol at their own game- every time Bristol try to run the ball, they lose ground and end up behind the gain line. Finally, from their own half, Bristol chip over the Sale defence and the replacement Hayes, with blistering pace, outruns the cover and crosses for a try which Bristol fail to convert- 25-19. Further penalties take the score to 28-22 with 8 minutes to go. Larrachea replaces the injured Taione in the last few minutes and Sale push hard, with another fast break from Ripol and Jason White charging on again. A Bristol defender knocks on deliberately. He goes into the bin and Charlie kicks the penalty. Then, with just a couple of minutes to go, Bristol get it together. With a super handling move starting deep in their own half, they break the Sale defence, straighten their lines of running and David Lemi scores. The conversion is good. Time is too short for them to threaten again and Sale hang on for a narrow, 31-29 win.

Let’s look back. This was a skin of the teeth job, less “winning ugly” than “winning lucky”- Sale struggled to get going and were outscored by 3 tries to 1, Bristol’s defenders lived on the edge, conceding penalties and spending time in the bin, but it so, so nearly paid off for them. Man of the match- to my eyes the best player on the park was Matt Salter, the Bristol blind side, even if he did eventually end with a yellow card. From Sale, I’d have gone for Oriol Ripol, closely followed by Chris Jones who played at 7. And as for my lesson in spin - no, I’m sorry, it’s just too difficult for a novice to put much of a gloss on this one. Here’s hoping it’s out of the players’ systems by next week.