Sharks all over
Autumn Sale……..….and the wheels have fallen off!
Sharks all over
By PaddyG October 6 2002
Close on 40 of the usual reprobates travelled north with anticipation and optimism in our hearts after the promising signs that things were coming good at the Wasps match, but alas it was not to be.
Sharks all over
Close on 40 of the usual reprobates travelled north with anticipation and optimism in our hearts after the promising signs that things were coming good at the Wasps match, but alas it was not to be.
Having followed the excellent directions posted in last weeks programme (and surprisingly they did take us to Sale and not to Saracens !?!!) we parked easily outside the ground and went to the Little B pub where we were treated to the glorious sight of Mrs Goz resplendent in green wig selling JC shirts to bemused passers by.
After a couple of AGs we proceeded to the ground where outside the gates bisach and no expert were doing sterling work with the JC shirts as well. In addition to this, Sale made an announcement concerning the JC fund and had people on each gate shaking buckets – a really good effort.
The Teams
Sale
1. Thorp
2. Titterrell
3. Stewart
4. Jones
5. Schofield
6. Sanderson
7. Pinkerton
8. Anglesea
9. Redpath
10. Hodgson
11. Hanley
12. Deane
13. Baxendale
14. Cueto
15. Robinson
London Irish
1. Worsley
2. Drotske
3. Hardwick
4. Studwick
5. Casey
6. Danaher
7. Dawson
8. Gustard
9. Edwards
10. Everitt
11. Rossouw
12. Appleford
13. Bishop
14. Sackey
15. Horak
Ref Hugh Watkins from WRFU
The first half Sale started well with good driving and a couple of penalties drove Irish back to their line, where after coming off their feet they gave a penalty to Irish.
A series of handling errors from both sides resulted in a number of changes of possession and a glimmer of the old Irish defence of last year.
There then followed several minutes of pressure play involving 8 or 9 phases of play with Irish camped on in the Sale half.
The sustained pressure on the Sale defence resulted in Hanley getting sent off for coming off his feet and Everett duly kicked the penalty which ensued (11 mins 0-3).
After a long injury break Sale had a scrum on their own 10m line and after a turnover Irish forced Sale to carry the ball over their own line resulting in a 5 mtr scrum for Irish, excellent handling down the line resulted in a try for Sackey in the corner. When Everitt ran up for the conversion the tannoy started up with “we will rock you”, and while I don’t think it affected him, Everitt’s conversion went across the face of the posts (18 mins 0-8).
Irish were then penalised for pulling down a scrum near the 10m line and Hodgeson duly kicked it for 3 points (22 mins 3-8)
Irish, under pressure on their own line, retained the ball and Horak picked the ball up and ran from deep in the Irish half, Cueto held him back and was immediately binned for his actions. Sale were back to 14 men (Hanley having returned a couple of mins earlier) (26 mins)
The next few minutes produced good play and good pressure and showed some of the London Irish of last year. Gustard, Sackey and Bishop all having an exceptional game. On the 34th minute from a turnover ball, Everitt stroked the ball through the posts for a fabulous drop goal. (34mins 3-11)
On the 37th minute Irish were awarded a penalty for Sale coming off their feet. Everitt’s kick went just right of the posts.
On the 39th minute, after a period of pressure by Sale, Irish conceded a penalty for entering the ruck from the side, Hodgson converted to make the half time score 6-11 to Irish.
The second half started scrappily with both sides making some handling errors. A late shoulder charge by Sackey on Robinson resulted in the penalty being given where the ball landed, at 10 mtres from the Irish line. Sale took the line out and Dean went through to score beside the posts for Sale, Hodgson duly converted. (44 mins 13-11)
At 45 mins Hatley come on for Worsley. Irish driving forward see Everitt play an inside ball which was intercepted by Jones, who ran from Sales 22 to score in the corner. Hodgson’s conversion attempt hit the post (47 mins 18-11)
Mapleloft replaces Everitt at 48 minutes and Irish were looking scrappy, even so they still put Sale under pressure on the their line, only to give a penalty away for offside, enabling Sale to clear their line.
Irish then conceded a penalty in front of their posts for offside, which Hodgson converted (54mins 21-11). Irish came straight back and were awarded a penalty just outside the 22. Mapleloft converted (57 mins 21-14).
A period of pressure then came from Irish and the ball was retained, gaps in the Sale defence were found but a handling error and following collapsed scrum gave Sharks the chance to clear their line.
From the lineout Sale attacked a tired looking Irish and set up a sustained period in the Irish half. The result, from a turnover ball, Hanley scored a try in the corner dragging Sackey and Horak over with him. Hodgeson missed the conversion (71mins 26-14)
Irish came straight back with a brilliant run by Dawson and a final pass to Sackey saw him go over the line only to lose it forward just before he put it down.
The following scrum saw some niggly pushing and shoving as tensions rose and resulted in a sending off for Sanderson for not rolling away.
A continued attack by Irish is brought to an abrupt halt by Cockle deliberately stamping on one of the Sale players – he is red carded and heads for the bench!
Sale are now looking vibrant and have the will to win and to underline this Redpath drops a goal (77min 29-14) – Irish by contrast looked tired and leaderless.
Two mins into injury time see Sale gain their bonus point with a cracking try which started from their own half and was scored by Cueto and converted by Hodgson (82mins 36-14)
Full time was blown at 83 mins
Final score Sale 36 London Irish 14
Attendance 5000 (approx didn’t get exact figure!)
At the press conference an angry looking Conor O’Shea said that Irish had committed suicide in the second half and that they were now in a hole, confidence had gone and it was going to be tough. He said that Irish had more concerns than just the Brendan Venter issue, with the exception of a couple of players who are playing unbelievable rugby, Paul Sackey and Justin Bishop there are guys that are just not…… we have played 6 won 1 we are in a hole!(exasperated and tired look)
When asked about Cockle he said that it was just crass stupidity and he had let the side down.
With heavy hearts we trudged back to the Little B for a consolation pint of AG before returning home.
PaddyG
After a couple of AGs we proceeded to the ground where outside the gates bisach and no expert were doing sterling work with the JC shirts as well. In addition to this, Sale made an announcement concerning the JC fund and had people on each gate shaking buckets – a really good effort.
The Teams
Sale
1. Thorp
2. Titterrell
3. Stewart
4. Jones
5. Schofield
6. Sanderson
7. Pinkerton
8. Anglesea
9. Redpath
10. Hodgson
11. Hanley
12. Deane
13. Baxendale
14. Cueto
15. Robinson
London Irish
1. Worsley
2. Drotske
3. Hardwick
4. Studwick
5. Casey
6. Danaher
7. Dawson
8. Gustard
9. Edwards
10. Everitt
11. Rossouw
12. Appleford
13. Bishop
14. Sackey
15. Horak
Ref Hugh Watkins from WRFU
The first half Sale started well with good driving and a couple of penalties drove Irish back to their line, where after coming off their feet they gave a penalty to Irish.
A series of handling errors from both sides resulted in a number of changes of possession and a glimmer of the old Irish defence of last year.
There then followed several minutes of pressure play involving 8 or 9 phases of play with Irish camped on in the Sale half.
The sustained pressure on the Sale defence resulted in Hanley getting sent off for coming off his feet and Everett duly kicked the penalty which ensued (11 mins 0-3).
After a long injury break Sale had a scrum on their own 10m line and after a turnover Irish forced Sale to carry the ball over their own line resulting in a 5 mtr scrum for Irish, excellent handling down the line resulted in a try for Sackey in the corner. When Everitt ran up for the conversion the tannoy started up with “we will rock you”, and while I don’t think it affected him, Everitt’s conversion went across the face of the posts (18 mins 0-8).
Irish were then penalised for pulling down a scrum near the 10m line and Hodgeson duly kicked it for 3 points (22 mins 3-8)
Irish, under pressure on their own line, retained the ball and Horak picked the ball up and ran from deep in the Irish half, Cueto held him back and was immediately binned for his actions. Sale were back to 14 men (Hanley having returned a couple of mins earlier) (26 mins)
The next few minutes produced good play and good pressure and showed some of the London Irish of last year. Gustard, Sackey and Bishop all having an exceptional game. On the 34th minute from a turnover ball, Everitt stroked the ball through the posts for a fabulous drop goal. (34mins 3-11)
On the 37th minute Irish were awarded a penalty for Sale coming off their feet. Everitt’s kick went just right of the posts.
On the 39th minute, after a period of pressure by Sale, Irish conceded a penalty for entering the ruck from the side, Hodgson converted to make the half time score 6-11 to Irish.
The second half started scrappily with both sides making some handling errors. A late shoulder charge by Sackey on Robinson resulted in the penalty being given where the ball landed, at 10 mtres from the Irish line. Sale took the line out and Dean went through to score beside the posts for Sale, Hodgson duly converted. (44 mins 13-11)
At 45 mins Hatley come on for Worsley. Irish driving forward see Everitt play an inside ball which was intercepted by Jones, who ran from Sales 22 to score in the corner. Hodgson’s conversion attempt hit the post (47 mins 18-11)
Mapleloft replaces Everitt at 48 minutes and Irish were looking scrappy, even so they still put Sale under pressure on the their line, only to give a penalty away for offside, enabling Sale to clear their line.
Irish then conceded a penalty in front of their posts for offside, which Hodgson converted (54mins 21-11). Irish came straight back and were awarded a penalty just outside the 22. Mapleloft converted (57 mins 21-14).
A period of pressure then came from Irish and the ball was retained, gaps in the Sale defence were found but a handling error and following collapsed scrum gave Sharks the chance to clear their line.
From the lineout Sale attacked a tired looking Irish and set up a sustained period in the Irish half. The result, from a turnover ball, Hanley scored a try in the corner dragging Sackey and Horak over with him. Hodgeson missed the conversion (71mins 26-14)
Irish came straight back with a brilliant run by Dawson and a final pass to Sackey saw him go over the line only to lose it forward just before he put it down.
The following scrum saw some niggly pushing and shoving as tensions rose and resulted in a sending off for Sanderson for not rolling away.
A continued attack by Irish is brought to an abrupt halt by Cockle deliberately stamping on one of the Sale players – he is red carded and heads for the bench!
Sale are now looking vibrant and have the will to win and to underline this Redpath drops a goal (77min 29-14) – Irish by contrast looked tired and leaderless.
Two mins into injury time see Sale gain their bonus point with a cracking try which started from their own half and was scored by Cueto and converted by Hodgson (82mins 36-14)
Full time was blown at 83 mins
Final score Sale 36 London Irish 14
Attendance 5000 (approx didn’t get exact figure!)
At the press conference an angry looking Conor O’Shea said that Irish had committed suicide in the second half and that they were now in a hole, confidence had gone and it was going to be tough. He said that Irish had more concerns than just the Brendan Venter issue, with the exception of a couple of players who are playing unbelievable rugby, Paul Sackey and Justin Bishop there are guys that are just not…… we have played 6 won 1 we are in a hole!(exasperated and tired look)
When asked about Cockle he said that it was just crass stupidity and he had let the side down.
With heavy hearts we trudged back to the Little B for a consolation pint of AG before returning home.
PaddyG
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