Cueto breaks record as Sale Sharks beat Exeter

Former England winger Mark Cueto became the Premiership’s top try scorer when he helped Sale Sharks to a 21-16 victory over Exeter Chiefs.

The victory is Sale Sharks third Premiership victory of the season but they remain bottom of the Premiership while Exeter have now slumped to four consecutive Premiership defeats.

Cueto started the match level with former Sale Shark Steve Hanley on 75 tries in the Premiership and today’s try makes him the Premiership’s leading try scorer of all time with 76.

Sale trailed 13-5 at the break despite Daniel Braid’s 17th-minute try but Cueto’s effort sparked a comeback that earned the league’s bottom side their third win of the season.

They now trail London Irish, who have a game in hand, by one point.

Exeter dominated the opening period; Gareth Steenson kicked a pair of penalties and converted Watsoni Votu’s 34th-minute try to build the visitors’ lead, which had grown to 16-5 when Steenson added his third penalty early in the second half.

But Cueto’s try was converted by Rob Miller and two penalties – one from Miller and the other via a post from Danny Cipriani – moved Sale in front for the first time after 64 minutes.

Nick Macleod’s late drop goal padded the lead five points and the TMO ruled out an Exeter try for a forward pass with less than a minute on the clock as Sale held on.

Final Score Sale Sharks (5) 21 Exeter Chiefs (13) 16

Scorers

Sale Sharks
Tries: Braid, Cueto
Con: Miller
Pens: Miller, Cipriani
Drop: Macleod

Exeter Chiefs
Try: Votu
Con: Steenson
Pens: Steenson 3

Match Officials
Referee: Greg Garner (43rd Premiership game)
Assistant Referees: Robin Goodliffe, Stuart Terheege.
TMO: Trevor Fisher

Teams

Sale Sharks

15 Rob Miller, 14 Charlie Amesbury, 13 Jonny Leota, 12 Sammy Tuitupou, 11 Mark Cueto, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Dwayne Peel, 1 Ross Harrison, 2 Tommy Taylor, 3 Henry Thomas, 4 Tom Holmes, 5 Kearnan Myall, 6 Dan Braid, 7 David Seymour Captain, 8 James Gaskell

Replacements 16 Marc Jones, 17 Alasdair Dickinson, 18 Tony Buckley, 19 Fraser McKenzie, 20 Richie Vernon, 21 Will Cliff, 22 Nick Macleod, 23 Will Addison

Exeter Chiefs

15 Luke Arscott , 14 Watisoni Votu , 13 Sireli Naqelevuki , 12 Jason Shoemark , 11 Jack Nowell , 10 Gareth Steenson , 9 Will Chudley , 1 Ben Moon , 2 Neil Clark , 3 Hoani Tui , 4 Tom Hayes (capt) , 5 Dean Mumm , 6 Ben White , 7 James Scaysbrook , 8 Richard Baxter

Replacements : 16 Jack Yeandle , 17 Carl Rimmer , 18 Alex Brown , 19 Aly Muldowney , 20 Kai Horstmann , 21 Haydn Thomas , 22 Ignacio Mieres , 23 Phil Dollman