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Sale Sharks crowned ‘Kings of the North’ with strong home win

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Sale ran out 54-12 winners at the AJ Bell on the last day of the regular season.

While the final day of the season is typically an emotional and underwhelming affair, saying goodbye to departing players and closing the doors on the season, there was a buzz in the air at the AJ Bell with a semi final booked and on the horizon.

Sale picked a strong side with the aim of gathering momentum going into their first home semi-final since 2006. They maintained the same backline that beat Gloucester but for Raffi Quirke coming into the starting side, making way for the retiring Will Cliff to take a place on the bench and possibly run out in the blue and white of Sharks for the last time. Cliff calling time on a stunning 16-year career which has seen him assert himself a firm fan-favourite of the AJ Bell.

Elsewhere, in the forward pack, Bevan Rodd, Ewan Ashman and Sam Dugdale came into the starting side, while new signing Tom Ellis took a place on the bench with a Sale Sharks debut on the cards.

Newcastle started the brighter of the two sides, scoring the first try after just three minutes. The familiarly fast-feet of fullback of Elliot Obatoyinbo creating half a hole for Pedro Rubiolo to crash over from short-range.

Sale soon hit back, however. In his first home debut, George Ford introduced himself to the Sharks faithful with a signature towering, spiralling, bomb kick which Falcons scrum half Sam Stuart couldn’t deal with. Tom Roebuck swooped in and poached the ball out the sky before running in the score untouched from 30 metres out.

The home side were at it again minutes later, a slick one-two as Sam James, on for Tuilagi, put Carpenter through a gap before the fullback returned the favoured allowing James to canter in just after coming on the field. Ford converted for 14-7.

They scored another just before half-time and it was another milestone marked happily as Ben Curry wrestled his way over from short-range on the occasion of his 150th Sale appearance. Ford again dissecting the posts to make it 21-7.

The heavens opened up over the halftime break, presenting the prospect of a slippery ball and dewy surface to negotiate in the second half.

However, Sale quickly showed this wouldn’t be a factor as Ben Curry slipped Jean-Luc du Preez into open space with a clever offload. JLDP was dragged down just short before the ball was recycled and Sharks flooded men to an undefended open-side, Bevan Rodd the beneficiary as he celebrated the bonus point try gratefully in front of the south stand. Ford kept his 100% rate off the tee to stretch the lead to 28-7.

 

As the hour-mark approached Sale began to run away with the game. Sharks defensive line-speed overwhelming Newcastle and a loose pass was pounced upon by an opportunistic Raffi Quirke who ran in the try from halfway.

Around 10 minutes later and a string of scrum penalties deep in Falcons territory left referee Sara Cox no choice but to award a penalty try and send Newcastle prop Phil Brantingham to the sin bin in the process.

The flood gates were open and Sale again pounced on an attacking error as Ben Curry hacked a loose ball deep into the Falcons 22. Cliff was on hand and almost steamed in for a famous try but opted to spin the ball wide instead. Roebuck was stopped just short but there was no stopping Arron Reed as the ball was swept to the other wing.

Suddenly Sharks were in cricket score territory and in no mood to take their foot off the gas. Once again marauding in Falcons 22 and Sam James was on hand in the left hand corner to score his second try of the game off the bench. Ford was six from off the tee but wasn’t given a chance at seven for seven, as the departing Will Cliff stepped up to rapturous applause, disappointingly shifting it just to the left. Nonetheless, Sale up hitting the half century, 54-7.

There was still time for Newcastle to get back on the scoresheet, 77 minutes after their first try, Jamie Blamire driving over in the last play of the game to make it 54-12.

So Sale were crowned ‘Kings of the North’ on Coronation Day and hit 50-points in one game for the first time this season, a testament to how their attacking game has developed and thrived under Alex Sanderson this season.

There was a positive atmosphere in the ground after the game and it was a fitting send off for Sale legends Jono Ross and Will Cliff if they are to never play for the club again. However, next Sunday at 3pm will see the monumental semi-final clash with the old enemy, Leicester Tigers, in front of a sold out AJ Bell. A ticket to Twickenham and a first Premiership Final since 2006 will be on the line.

 

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