Last gasp Stef' denies Sale a point

London Irish kept their faint hopes of a play-off place alive with a last minute Steffon Armitage try at the Reebok Stadium.

For Sale Sharks it was a tale of what could have been, not only missing out on a losing bonus point but squandering opportunities to win the contest.

With all the talk pre-match surrounding a prospective move to Toulon for the 25-year old Armitage it was his last minute effort from a catch and drive that moves Irish to within four points of the Northampton Saints.

The game saw the home ground of Bolton Wanderers become the 30^th ground to host a Premiership Rugby game and a crowd in excess of 16,000 were not left disappointed.

The London Irish outfit, not unfamiliar to the surroundings of a modern day football stadium, found themselves in desperate need of a win given Saints victory on Friday evening along with Gloucester’s draw at Welford Road earlier in the day.

With this, they wasted no time in making their intentions felt and led at half time by three tries to none.

Toby Booth’s Irish had the luxury of welcoming lock Bob Casey back from injury, along with prop Alex Corbisiero making his first start since the Six Nations.

It was in the forwards and the lineout in particular that the Reading based side dominated, David Paice’s try after half an hour exemplifying this.

Free-running Topsy Ojo however opened the scoring after 13 minutes, his anticipation allowing him to intercept and coast in untouched from 40 metres.

The opening ten minutes had seen kickers Charlie Hodgson and Tom Homer both miss efforts at goal, Hodgson atoning for his misjudgement on 24 minutes.

England U-20 international Homer soon reinstated his sides seven point lead however from in front of the posts.

David Paice’s third try in as many games was added to two minutes from half time, a mesmerising Dan Bowden run unlocking the Sharks defence.

The Sharks, playing at the Reebok as they look to extend the Sale brand within the region, came out for the second half with the score 24-3 and the bit firmly between their teeth.

London Irish looked to prevent any build in momentum for the hosts through a long range Tom Homer effort as he extended the lead to three converted tries.

This however did not deter a side who had clearly been given a few choice words by Director of Sport Steve Diamond during the break.

Sisa Koyamaibole came within inches of scoring 13 minutes into the second stanza only to drop the ball over the whitewash.

Sale’s sustained pressure inside the visitors territory continued, Sean Cox showing Koyamaibole how to finish around the fringes an hour in.

A second try was added within two minutes, Wale Lewaravu galloping down the right wing after Neil Briggs’ perfectly timed pass released the lock to finish in the corner.

Another Tom Homer shot at goal looked to stretch the deficit to beyond a converted try ten minutes from time, the effort wide of the mark.

As the game drew to its climax the Edgeley Park residents had appeared to have successfully secured themselves a bonus point as they continue in their attempts to assure their Premiership status.

Their hopes of leaving Bolton with this point were dashed however, Dan Bowden’s drilled kick into the corner from half way setting up the attacking platform from which Irish and Armitage snatched the fourth try.

Sale 36 - 31 Gloucester

Sale’s Charlie Hodgson surpassed 1000 points at Edgeley Park as the Sharks’ 36-31 win eased their relegation fears.

A three try blitz in the second half saw off a Gloucester outfit looking to put pressure on their title rivals.

Within ten minutes the Sharks found themselves crossing the whitewash, only to be called back for what was adjudged by referee Sean Davey to be a forward pass.

Hodgson and Gloucester’s Freddie Burns traded penalties in an opening ten minutes that saw both sides display intent to run the ball.

It was Burns, in contrast to Hodgson just starting his Premiership career, who set up the opportunity for the visitors to take the lead.

The 20-year-old’s kick into the corner allowed the cherry and whites to set up an attacking platform five metres out. From quick second phase ball Burns ran a dummy scissor move, Molenaar picking an incisive line to breach the Sharks defence.

Straight from the restart the visitors opened the door for Hodgson to close the gap to four points, adding a further penalty on the half hour mark.

Sale soon had another opportunity to cross, almost a carbon-copy of the disallowed effort. The last pass however not going to hand, an opportunity squandered.

The hosts struck before half-time in response to another Burns penalty to take a three point lead at the break.

The strong running of Andy Tuilagi attracting defenders, his slip ball finding Paul Williams to finish well in the right hand corner.

Much like in the first half the opening period of the second saw Burns and Hodgson trade penalties again before three tries saw Sale secure the bonus point win.

It was aggressive Sale defence that saw them profit, with two tries.

Poor ball retention from Gloucester resulted in a hack through, Addison collecting the ball and squeezing over in the left hand corner for his first Premiership try.

From turn over ball Williams added to his earlier try. With the Sharks backs moving the ball from left to right and back again, the winger finding the perfect line to go over.

The scoring sequence was broken by substitute Tim Taylor; this did not however inhibit Sale’s attacking ambitions.

An opportunity was missed once more, hooker Neil Briggs dropping the ball with the line at his mercy.

The record breaking Hodgson, architect for much of the night collating a haul of 21 points, turned scorer soon after. A lapse in the Gloucester defence allowing the Saracens bound fly-half to sneak in the corner, when it appeared he would strike for goal.

Jonny May and a penalty try, repetitive infringement at the scrum prompting referee Daley to go under the posts came in the final 12 minutes.

These however were not enough and in some respects flattered the west-countrymen.

The win moves Sale 11 points clear of Newcastle Falcons, almost guaranteeing their Premiership status.

At the opposite end of the table, Gloucester’s bonus point sees them move two points ahead of Northampton Saints in the top four.