Sale Sharks…………………………37
Tries: Curry 3, Dugdale 7, Reed 40+2, 64; Quirke 59
Conversions: Ford 4, 40+4
Penalties: Ford 16, 44
Harlequins………………………….31
Tries: Lynagh 24, 35; Murley 49, Beard 57, Northmore 79
Conversions: Smith 50, 58; Evans 80
Sale Sharks boosted their high 4 aspirations with a hard-fought victory in opposition to Harlequins, whose personal play-off problem was dented.
The hosts led by 15 factors in as many minutes, as Tom Curry and Sam Dugdale scored with George Ford slotting 5 factors from the tee.
Quins hit again with a brace from Louis Lynagh, however Sale opened up the identical benefit once more as Arron Reed struck and Ford repeated his goalkicking effort.
And although Quins reduce the hole to at least one level with tries from Cadan Murley and Oscar Beard, Raffi Quirke seized upon a chargedown to sink the guests earlier than Reed clinched his double to seal the victory.
A shocking run from Murley fed Luke Northmore for a second Quins bonus level, however they slipped out of the highest 4 following Bristol’s big win in opposition to Newcastle.
Sale wanted lower than three minutes to get forward as Curry flopped over the road from the again of a maul, with the sector place earned by a superb Joe Carpenter break.
With Quins trying jaded from final weekend’s dramatic win at Bordeaux Sale have been carving the Londoners aside at each alternative, and it wasn’t lengthy earlier than Dugdale crashed over within the nook.
The openside flanker then made a superb turnover, one among three he managed within the match, and with Quins’ assault faltering and defence nonetheless trying tender, Ford knocked over extra factors following a burst by way of the centres from Manu Tuilagi.
Now three scores behind the guests desperately wanted a fast response. They have been made to work arduous to get on the scoresheet having been camped in Sale’s territory, however Quins’ persistence ultimately paid off as Lynagh completed properly within the nook.
The Londoners have been starting to dominate possession within the lead as much as half-time and Sale have been being hampered by deteriorating self-discipline, displayed by the eight penalties they conceded within the first interval.
It additionally meant Quins have been being handed too many alternatives, and with a penalty benefit Tyrone Inexperienced was capable of jink by way of and feed Lynagh for his second.
Having had subsequent to no ball for 20 minutes, Sharks supporters might need wished the full-time whistle to come back after Lynagh’s second, however a late twist restored their two-score benefit after a properly labored lineout set Luke Cowan-Dickie free.
As soon as the hooker had damaged into the 22, Sale maintained possession and moved the guests’ defence round properly earlier than Curry discovered Reed, who completed brilliantly within the nook by way of the tackles of Will Porter and Andre Esterhuizen.
It was a hammer blow for subsequent month’s Champions Cup semi-finalists, and they’d require an analogous response to the one they’d supplied within the first-half in the event that they have been to come back away from the AJ Bell Stadium with a lift to their hopes of additionally making the final 4 within the Premiership.
Sale began the higher within the second interval although, and Ford pushed the lead again out to fifteen with one other penalty 4 minutes after the break.
However as soon as once more as soon as because the hosts reached a three-score lead Harlequins sparked into life, and after Murley didn’t handle to meet up with a chip by way of from Inexperienced he received his rating a couple of minutes in a while the top of a go from Chandler Cunningham-South, with the flanker being put by way of a gap by Marcus Smith.
Smith lastly nailed his first conversion, and with the wind on their backs Quins have been rising in confidence with elevated ruck velocity and extra yardage with the carries they have been making.
After some punchy ahead carries, Danny Care fed Beard for his or her bonus-point rating, and Smith’s second conversion introduced the guests to inside some extent of Sale.
However Sharks quickly had a bonus level of their very own, as Andre Esterhuizen was charged down by new alternative Tom O’Flaherty straight from the ensuing restart and Raffi Quirke scooped up the chance.
It swung momentum again in favour of the hosts, with Reed finishing his double after fetching a top quality lengthy go from Rob Du Preez, and although Murley beautifully arrange Northmore Quins’ closing assault fell brief and Sale held on for a vital victory.
SALE SHARKS: Carpenter, Roebuck, R du Preez, Tuilagi, Reed, Ford, Warr; Rodd, Cowan-Dickie, Harper, Wiese, Beaumont, Curry, Dugdale, JL du Preez
Replacements: Taylor, McIntyre, John, Bamber, Andrews, Quirke, James, O’Flaherty
HARLEQUINS: Inexperienced, Lynagh, Beard, Esterhuizen, Murley, Smith, Porter; Marler, Riley, Lewis, Herbst, Lewies, Cunningham-South, W Evans, Dombrandt
Replacements: Walker, Baxter, Kerrod, Hammond, Lawday, Care, J Evans, Northmore
Referee: Tom Foley
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