Leaders Bath end Sale’s unbeaten home record

Gallagher Premiership

Sale (16) 23

Tries: Reed, R du Preez, Carpenter Cons: R du Preez Pens: R du Preez 2

Bath (12) 32

With a bonus-point victory at the Salford Community Stadium, Sale Sharks’ unbeaten home record was ended by Ruairidh McConnochie with two tries.

Johann van Graan’s side came from 16-5 down to stay top and recover from last week’s stingy defeat to Northampton Saints, with Finn Russell in excellent form with the ball in hand and the boot.

After Arron Reed and Rob Du Preez scoredtries in the competition’s first season, Russell made it possible for Russell to score more than 100 points.

Bath stayed in touch with McConnochie’s double, and after the break exerted their forward power with Max Ojomoh and Tom Carr-Smith scoring tries before Joe Carpenter’s score gave Sale late, forlorn hope.

In the first half, Sale were more than competitive as they attempted to extend an 11-game winning streak in their northern fortress despite losing five of their first-choice pack to England call-ups. That conclusion appeared unlikely.

When Rob du Preez slung a long pass over the top, Reed showed his finishing prowess by breaking inside the cover to score. The forwards powered the ball to the nearest metre.

Du Preez added a penalty, but Bath launched into action and McConnochie sprinted over wide to close the gap after Louis Schreuder forced an error at the breakdown.

Sale stormed forward again and when Tom O’Flaherty picked up Carpenter’s grubber and was held up just short, du Preez picked up and darted over on the blindside, before adding another penalty, to put Sale clear again.

Just before the break, McConnochie once more stretched away from the home defense before Russell’s conversion, which finished the game nicely.

Bath were superb in the second 40 minutes, with Russell pulling the strings.

Ojomoh appeared to have scored a quick try, but a video review found it unacceptable after the wing had juggled the ball against O’Flaherty’s shoulder to knock on before diving over.

Eight minutes later, Joe Cokanasiga was stopped by two tacklers who couldn’t stop him, and this time Russell made a sweeping pass to him.

Russell’s conversion and subsequent penalty gave him a 13-point lead before surpassing the century mark for the campaign.

When Sale were penalized at the breakdown, Russell quickly kicked the penalty long despite Sale’s claim that he had missed the mark. However, Reed had a rare opportunity to do so.

Carr-Smith was on the fly-half’s wavelength and sprinted the length of the field to kick on and score.

Sale: Carpenter, O’Flaherty, Addison, Ma’asi-White, Reed, R du Preez, Warr, McIntyre, Caine, John, van Rhyn, Andrews, J-L du Preez, Dugdale, D. du Preez.

Replacements: McElroy, Onasanya, Raymont, Hill, Bamber, Thomas, Wills, Bedlow

Bath: de Glanville, Cokanasiga, Ojomoh, Butt, McConnochie, Russell, Schreuder, Obano, Annett, du Toit, Roux, Ewels, Bayliss, Reid, Barbeary

Replacements: Tuipolotu, van Wyk, Sela, Molony, Richards, Carr-Smith, Bailey, Coetzee