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.
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