By Sarah
May 9 2002

Sale are now guaranteed a top three league finish since beating Leeds last night at Heywood Road. After two glorious games, Sale can be forgiven for last night coming up with a less sparkling performance, but they still scored four tries to earn a bonus point. Leeds were first with a try, just minutes after kick off as Leeds won the ball from a Sale line-out and moved the ball to winger Chris Hall who crossed the line.Braam Van Straaten converted. Mel Deane was penalised shortly after for holding on, but the decision was made very hastily after he actually went down. Complaints aside, Van Straaten kicked for three points and put Leeds 10-0 up.

Sale got on the board after a quarter of an hour with an Anthony Elliot try in the corner, scored after Pete Anglesea had a good run through the Leeds defence. Charlie was struggling with his kicks and didn't convert, but Sale went ahead in the 23rd minute with a try from the other winger, Mark Cueto. Again Pete Anglesea had helped by charging through the defence and Charlie sent a long pass to Cueto, who easily ran over the line. Charlie was successful with the conversion this time and put us 12-10 up.

Sale continued to attack without success, and the pickings were equally slim for Leeds who failed with two drop goal attempts. Finally they scored a long range penalty at the end of the first half to send the teams in with Leeds ahead.

Sale as usual scored soon after half time as Bryan Redpath darted over from the base of a scrum, though Leeds fans thought that the ref should have noticed a knock on before the try. Charlie had found his kicking boots by the second half and used them to kick three penalties by the 55th minute, putting Sale in the clear at 29-13.

There was plenty of action as the match went on and Apollo Perelini, replacing Kevin Yates as prop, would have scored but for being held up over the line. Jason Robinson also made a promising break but it took until the 78th minute for a try to be scored, and that went to the wrong side. Dan Scarbrough made up a lot of ground before being nailed by Jason, and Japie Mulder finished the move off.

Finally Jason made a try by running the ball in midfield, selling a dummy to set the defence on the wrong foot, and passing out to Cueto who ran in his second try. Charlie converted.

It was not as good a performance as we saw against London Irish but that does not matter at all. We got the win and bagged a place in the Heineken Cup for next year. Alex Sanderson had a good match, as did Anthony Elliot, and Jason Robinson made some important try-saving tackles. Leeds put up a decent defence and it looks like they will be playing Premiership rugby next season even if they do eventually finish 12th this year.

Sale team: Jason Robinson, Mark Cueto, Martin Shaw (Jos Baxendell, 61), Mel Deane, Anthony Elliott; Charlie Hodgson, Bryan Redpath (capt) (Alan Dickens, 77), Kevin Yates (Apollo Perelini, 70), Charl Marais (Andy Titterrell, 45), Barrie Stewart (Adam Black, 54), Iain Fullarton (Scott Lines, 44), Chris Jones, Alex Sanderson, Pete Anglesea (Richard Wilks, 61), Stuart Pinkerton.

Leeds: Dan Scarborough, Octavia Bartolucci (Jon Benson, 63), Japie Mulder (Tristan Davies, 77), Braam van Straaten, Chris Hall, Steve Bachop, Scott Benton (John O'Reilly, 72), Justin Wring (Kris Fullman, 63), Matt Holt (Mark Luffman, 63), Mike Shelley (capt), Chris Murphy, Phil Murphy, Dan Hyde (Cammie Mather, 56), Carl Hogg, James Ponton.