By Edinburgh Shark
August 12 2016

A stirring performance including a record 8 tries from Paulo Odogwu at Kinston Park saw Sale Sharks though to the Singha 7s finals at the Ricoh arena in Coventry. How would they get on? Edinburgh Shark was there to see.

Sale Sharks 24 – Cardiff Blues 17

(Tries from Tom Curry, Ben Curry, Paolo Odogwu, Curtis Langdon; conv. James Mitchell x2)

Sale began the first game under pressure, Cardiff controlling possession for the vast majority of the first half. This was partly due to good ball retention, but Sale were sloppy with the ball in hand, knocking on from slightly forced plays. In defence, however, it’s hard to criticise Sale, who were pressuring well at every ruck and tackling very aggressively. Cardiff eventually broke the line after a quick free-kick at scrum time, Sale reacting slowest to the ref’s whistle (although those quick taps are virtually impossible to defend). Sale’s offensive mistakes again cost them, as it was from another Cardiff scrum that the Welsh scored their second, Cardiff nicely working an overlap to outflank the pressured Sale defence. Half time 0-10.

The first action of any note in the second half resulted in Sale’s first try of the day, Bedlow reacting quickest to a loose ball in midfield to draw a defender and put Tom Curry away up the wing. From 50m or so Curry never looked like he was going to be caught, showing impressive pace for a forward (and such a young one at that!) Sale scored their second soon after, Ben Curry matching his brother after some clinical work manufacturing a mismatch in midfield. Sale’s handling in attack was markedly improved in the second half, but it was their defence that let them down as Cardiff went in for a third, some slack tackling in midfield allowing an easy converted score. My personal highlight of the day followed, George Nott looking supreme under the high ball to claim an exceptional take at the restart, and Odogwu raced in soon after to help put Sale 19-17 ahead. Bedlow made the break, scything through with great footwork, before tying up the last man and delivering a perfect pass to the outside for Ogodwu to bag his 9th of the tournament. Sale would have the final say in the game, young hooker Curtis Langdon barrelling over after excellent footwork from Mitchell. It was an impressive finish from Langdon, who looked like he would be caught right from the second he received the pass, but he somehow squirmed away and put the game out of reach. Final score 24-17

“It was a game of two halves” isn’t a phrase I’m particularly enamoured of, but it is very accurate in summing up Sale’s performance. Big tackles from Bedlow and trialist Nick Scott set the defensive tone in the second half, in which Sale tightened up in attack and defence, their dominance of possession and territory forcing Cardiff into mistakes both on and off the ball. So onwards to the semi-finals, and perennial contenders Exeter Chiefs, who looked mightily impressive in dispatching Northampton Saints 38-12 in their opening game.

Sale Sharks 21 – Exeter Chiefs 26

(Tries from Tom Curry, Paolo Odogwu, Nick Scott; conv. James Mitchell x3)

Tom Curry was Sale’s first scorer of the game again, and this time the first scorer from either side. The youngster came onto the ball on an excellent line in his own 22, the angle taking him away from the would-be defender, and he strode the rest of the pitch with ease to dot down. Sale would have little of the ball in the first half, and it was no surprise when Exeter levelled things up, the impressive Sam Simmonds crashing over after heavy pressure on the Sale defence. Nobody was really to blame for the try, Exeter were just one step ahead in controlling possession, and the score became inevitable as the phases piled up. Sale finished the half on a high, however, Paolo Odogwu catching the Exeter blindside defence sleeping at a ruck, and darting round the corner to finish. Excellent awareness from the flyer, who looks unstoppable when given a half-chance to stretch his legs. It was Sale’s defence that won the half, and the commentators on BT Sport ominously predicted that the defensive effort put in would tell in the latter stages of the game. Half time 14-7.

It was Sale that would start the brighter in the second half, though, Nick Scott finishing after some good offloading and ball movement stretched the Exeter defence beyond breaking point. Scott’s try really showed the importance of keeping one’s hands free in the tackle, Exeter unable to stop Sale’s momentum, and eventually running out of numbers. What followed was unfortunately what the commentators predicted, Exeter looking the sharper team as Sale flagged, failing to score again in the match. Firstly some poor missed tackles off first-phase ball let the Chiefs in, before some risky attacking play on Sale’s own line caused a turnover from which Exeter were able to pounce again. At 21-21 it was anyone’s game, and Odogwu provided some magic on the left wing with a frankly outrageous step to take him round a helpless Chief. Less Jason Robinson, more Fred Astaire! Ultimately Exeter’s class showed, Sale’s tired defensive line slow to close the ball down as the ball was spread wide, and an easy finish in the corner would eliminate Sale from competition.

Despite the loss, the tournament as a whole has been a great success for Sale, some excellent individual performances coming from Curry (x2), Mitchell, Bedlow and Scott over the two days. However, the real highlight (as a fan of the “boring” side of rugby) was how well Sale’s defensive pattern worked, able to seriously limit the Chiefs’ potent attack and completely null Cardiff’s. Sale only conceded 9 tries in their 5 games and were the sole team in the entire competition to “nil” an opponent (a tired Worcester), a very decent record. The ease with which players adapted to the defensive structure, and the clear faith in the defenders inside and outside, meant that Sale really had no weak links defensively, even at the end of games when players were brought on off the bench.