Well beaten: Sale Sharks
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London Welsh condemned Sale to a fourth successive Premiership defeat on Friday after recording a fine 29-19 success at Salford City Stadium.
Fresh from their victory at Exeter, Lyn Jones' men took the game to their hosts from the off.
First blood went to them only two minutes in, with a Gordon Ross penalty goal to calm the nerves.
A fine pick and drive from Jonathan Mills saw the Exiles' captain score the first try of the game only moments later, and with Ross adding the extras and a further penalty goal, the visitors were in a commanding position as the game wore on.
Having shown their attacking qualities, they were equally strong in defence, with Sale struggling to pass the gain line for long spells.
It was Danny Cipriani who finally got the scoreboard ticking Sale's way with three penalty goals, but Welsh replied with a try five minutes from the half-time whistle, as Ed Jackson scored in a move that saw the ball recycled several times.
Facing a 23-9 half-time deficit, the Sharks had a mountain to climb in the second period. It didn't start well, as Ross kicked another three.
But Sale came back with a try of their own, as Tom Brady went over after his pack had spent several phases battering the Welsh line. Nick McLeod, replacing Cipriani, kicked the extras, and clawed Sale back to within a converted score with a penalty goal ten minutes from time.
But it was Ross who had the last laugh, as he took away Sale's chance of a losing bonus-point with a last-gasp penalty to leave the Sharks searching for their first win of the season.
The scorers:
For Sale:
Tries: Brady
Con: Macleod
Pen: Cipriani 3, Macleod
For London Welsh:
Tries: Mills, Jackson
Con: Ross 2
Pen: Ross 5
Sale Sharks: 15 Rob Miller, 14 Tom Brady, 13 Johnny Leota, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Mark Cueto, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Dwayne Peel, 8 Andy Powell 7 David Seymour (c), 6 Mark Easter, 5 Kearnan Myall, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Vadim Cobilas, 2 Joe Ward, 1 Eifion Lewis-Roberts.
Replacements: 16 Tommy Taylor, 17 Ross Harrison, 18 Tony Buckley, 19 Fraser McKenzie, 20 Richie Vernon, 21 Will Cliff, 22 Nick Macleod, 23 Corne Uys.
London Welsh: 15 Tom Arscott, 14 Phil Mackenzie, 13 Sonny Parker, 12 Hudson Tonga'uiha, 11 Nick Scott, 10 Gordon Ross, 9 Tyson Keats, 8 Ed Jackson, 7 Michael Hills, 6 Daniel Browne, 5 Matt Corker, 4 Jonathan Mills (c), 3 Paulica Ion, 2 Neil Briggs, 1 Frank Montanella.
Replacements: 16 Dan George, 17 Tom Bristow, 18 Arthur Joly, 19 Kirill Kulemin, Ed Williamson, 21 Nick Runciman, 22 Ryan Davis, 23 Seb Jewell.
Referee: Andrew Small
Assistant referees: Paul Burton, Alan Hughes
Timekeeper: Mike Hamlin
Assesor: Tony Spreadbury
Comments
heart_of_oak says...
jamietheprop - are you serious about Richie Gray ? Every time I saw him play for Scotland, he looked damn good to me. I must admit I also had him as a dead cert Lions 2nd row. I was really looking forward to seeing him play alongside Courtney Lawes. But the way Sale are going I think RG's chances will suffer.
They've sacked the forwards coach I see. Maybe a new face will improve the team's prospects.
Posted 20:45 23rd September 2012
crunchfit says...
Not a big fan of the stars on rugby jerseys, including my own teams'.
Posted 15:45 23rd September 2012
atg77 says...
Gordon Ross... still going strong at 34. I wonder if we'll see him back in a Scotland shirt soon.
Posted 12:01 23rd September 2012
NHSaints says...
Well...I can't say I wasn't expecting Welsh to scalp a fair few prem teams but sale had some really big names and I wasn't expecting them to start their season like this...
Posted 17:19 22nd September 2012
Sincero says...
Well, it's either got to represent their league win, or the challenge cup. Either way, a bit naff sticking it on there when the star has come to symbolise clearly a European Cup.
You lose a quid, bullit. Guessed right hat I'm Irish (as I was criticising English rugby and the state of Scottish rugby while speaking English fluently you hedged your bets with either Irish or Welsh), but am not a teenager. I don't usually stick the boot into you English either, but your PLR have peeved me recently, so I don't feel at all rude in suggesting that the famous brand of English bosh and kick rugby utterly unwatchable, mate.
Posted 16:04 22nd September 2012
kenttaff says...
@sincero i think its from their premiership title they won back in the halcyon days of jason robinson. dont quote me on that but thats what i think
Posted 12:02 22nd September 2012
Carriag says...
@ Sincero, I presume its for their sole premiership title.
To be honest i think putting stars on jerseys is a soccer fad, and doesnt belong in rugby.
Posted 11:14 22nd September 2012
jamesliveinhope says...
Wow, starting to feel like a classic case of new boys are fit and well organised, underestimate them at your peril.
Interesting that 2 coaches are looking to repair a damaged reputation - Brian Smith and Bryan Redpath - if they don't survive this league (and I respect that there is a long way to go yet) they may struggle to get a post with a schoolboy operation.
I believe that Sale's star relates to their Premiership win.
Posted 11:06 22nd September 2012
kid_diablo says...
@Sincero: i think they've had the star for a few years. i assume it represents their premiership win, same reason i think for toulon and their three stars. it would be better if teams didn't use it for their domestic league, i'd like to see all heineken cup winners use gold stars above the crest and amlin winners use silver.
Posted 10:56 22nd September 2012
bullitt says...
"the dullest league in the world."
A quid says Sincero is a teenage celt, either Welsh or from Dublin.
Posted 10:20 22nd September 2012
JamieTheProp says...
@ Sincero - he probably left Scotland to play in a team that actually has some supporters. Chose the wrong team mind! Also nobody else would have him - he's overrated beyond belief and there is no way he'd have been a Lion!
Posted 10:14 22nd September 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
It seems all a promoted team needs is character and club culture because there are always a few premiership teams completely lacking in that area.
Posted 10:14 22nd September 2012
Tesh says...
Sale will get better as the season goes on, there's too much talent there for them to do anything but. And how is the premiership dull Sincero? Really, i'd
like to hear you're exaggerated nonsense on the subject
Posted 10:03 22nd September 2012
Sincero says...
Also, somebody please tell me why there's now a star on the Sale jersey?! Cheers.
Posted 02:57 22nd September 2012
Sincero says...
So sad that Richie Gray decided he'd leave his home to go to one of the bleakest places on the planet to play in a mediocre team in the dullest league in the world. Just what kind of a state is Scottish rugby in that they lose arguably their biggest star to Sale? Why would he want to go to play along side Tony Buckley, Andy Powell and Danny Cipriani? It's like a international dream team of galacticos who were inexplicably capped for their countries along with much hype, and who to a man failed to deliver miserably at every opportunity. Richie, Richie, Richie... you were nailed-on to be a Lion, too. It can't be healthy.
Posted 02:48 22nd September 2012
Jediboy says...
Well done Welsh. Great result. Some people had Sale as contenders this season. What's happened? Or were they just wrong.?
Posted 01:01 22nd September 2012
kid_diablo says...
WOW, i'm now kind of embarrassed to admit that i thought sharks would be a top 6 team this year
Posted 00:16 22nd September 2012
TVaddict says...
I bet Cipriani and Gray are glad they joined Sale...
Posted 00:07 22nd September 2012
alanatleeds says...
Congratulations to London Welsh - as a Leeds supporter I know only too well how diffficult it is to rise up the slippery pole to the Premiership and then stay there, especially given the massive financial disadvantage of not being a Premiership Share Holder.
Posted 22:22 21st September 2012