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The Prem
Gloucester (7) 21
Tries: Loader, C Atkinson 2 Cons: Barton 3
Sale (12) 15
Tries: Longstaff, O’Flaherty Cons: Ford Drop-goal: Ford
Gloucester fought back to beat Sale Sharks 21-15 at Kingsholm and secure their first back-to-back Prem wins of the season.
Alfie Longstaff’s early score and Tom O’Flaherty’s breakaway try put Sale 12-0 ahead, but Ben Loader’s reply was the least Gloucester deserved for their expansive approach.
The hosts lost Wales star scrum-half Tomos Williams to a shoulder injury early in the second half, but Charlie Atkinson’s close-range snipe and George Barton’s second conversion soon had them in front.
George Ford’s 45-metre drop-goal put Sale back in front at 15-14, but Atkinson went over for his second try with four minutes left to finally secure the win.
A fourth league win of the season boosts Gloucester’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s European Champions Cup and gives them a nine-point buffer over ninth-placed Harlequins, who visit bottom side Newcastle Red Bulls on Sunday.
Getty ImagesSale capped a bright opening when a quick backs move found Tom Roebuck, who accelerated down the wing and delivered an over-the-shoulder pass to the charging Longstaff, who slid over the line.
Matias Alemanno thought he had levelled after Barton had been stopped inches short following a slick move, but TMO Dean Richards spotted a knock-on as the Argentina lock dotted down.
Afo Fasogbon was then held up as he charged over the line, but Sale absorbed it all before delivering a classic sucker-punch when a loose Gloucester pass was recovered and O’Flaherty streaked away under the posts from inside his own half.
More frustration followed as the hosts were twice held up over the line following Williams’ superb 50:22, foiled by fine defensive work from Jacques Vermeulen.
But all of that possession, territory and attacking flair was rewarded when Loader barged between two defenders and carried a third over the line to score.
Getty ImagesThe home side suffered a big blow after the interval when Williams was forced off with a shoulder problem following a shuddering hit.
But the one-way traffic continued as Val Rapava-Ruskin was stopped inches short before the dam inevitably burst when Atkinson darted in from close range following another dominant scrum.
Arthur Clark’s walk-in try was chalked off for Will Trenholm’s forward scoring pass as Sale hung in just two points back and, somehow, still in touch heading into the final quarter.
They had barely got out of their own half, but Gloucester’s missing cutting edge was punished when Ford’s superb drop-goal had them back in front at 15-14 with just seven minutes left.
Yet Max Llewellyn’s burst into the Sale 22 and quick ball at the ruck allowed Atkinson to run in unopposed for his second try and prevent the smash-and-grab from the visitors.
Gloucester: Barton; Joseph, Llewellyn, S Atkinson, Loader; C Atkinson, Williams (c); Rapava Ruskin, Blake, Fasogbon, Clark, Alemanno, Thomas, Venter, Trenholm.
Replacements: Innard, Bleuler, Knight, Eite, Gwynne, Clement, Englefield, Edwards-Giraud.
Sale: Carpenter; Roebuck, Louw, Ma’asi-White, O’Flaherty; Ford, Warr; McEachran, Longstaff, Opoku-Fordjour, Andrews, Bamber, van Rhyn (c), Vermeulen, Dugdale.
Replacements: Austin, Onasanya, Harper, Woodman, Kelly, Hanson, L James, Reed.
Referee: Sara Cox.
