Six try Sale Sharks thump London Irish

Sale Sharks earned a 38-10 bonus point victory over London Irish in the Aviva Premiership at the AJ Bell stadium on Saturday.

Sale Sharks were in control for most of the match and led 12-10 at the break but outscored London Irish by six tries to one.

Sale maintained their unbeaten home record with Nev Edwards – who this time last year was playing rugby semi-professionally – grabbing two tries.

Brian Mujati, TJ Ioane, Sam James, and Sam Tuitupou also got themselves on the scoresheet for a Sale side who now move level on points with sixth placed Northampton Saints.

Irish, who started the day with the worst defence in the league, rarely threatened getting anything out of the game, and were outclassed in all aspects by a Sale side who will look to use this as a springboard to move onto better things.

Irish got off to a decent start, with Shane Geraghty kicking over a penalty won from a breakdown in front of the posts, but Sale responded in fine fashion, Mujati sneaking over in the corner. The conversion was missed by Danny Cipriani, with some blame put down to the blustery conditions.

The adverse weather made for entertaining play, and after multiple scrums went in the home side’s favour, Ioane got himself on the scoresheet, crashing over from close range. This time, Cipriani converted, and Sharks led 12-3.

Moments later, a chance to extend that lead came in the form of a penalty, but the wind once again took control of Cipriani’s effort, sending it wide.

With ten minutes to go until the break, the Exiles thought they had found a way back into the game, but the TMO ruled a forward pass in the build-up to Will Lloyd going over.

The visitors continued to apply pressure despite the disappointment of the disallowed try, and were rewarded moments before half-time with a penalty try after a series of drives from the Exiles forward line. Geraghty added the extras, reducing the deficit to 12-10 at the break.

If Irish made a strong start to the first half, Sharks made a near-knockout punch at the start of the second, thanks to James going over for his side’s third try of the game having been fed by Tuitupou. Cipriani made no mistake with the conversion, and it was 19-10.

With little more than a quarter of the game remaining, Edwards scored the fourth try for the hosts – securing a bonus point in the process – but it was all too simple as the visiting defence opened up to allow him to cross the line with relative ease, and Cipriani converted.

Sale ended the game as a contest as Edwards got through once more to cross the line following a break from fellow try-scorer James. Although Cipriani was unable to add the extras, the lead was extended to 31-10 thanks to the try.

By the time it came to the final ten minutes, Sale were unstoppable.

Their sixth try came from Tuitupou, who crashed over after playing his part in the driving maul. Joe Ford was the man with the conversion, extending the lead to 28 points.

With minutes remaining, Irish thought they had scored a try, but the TMO ruled it out, and Irish were rewarded with a scrum rather than five points.

There were chances for the hosts to score a seventh try, most noticeably through Ioane who knocked on close to the try line, but in the end they had to be content with the 38-10 victory.

Final Score Sale Sharks 38 (12) London Irish 10 (10)

Scorers

Sale Sharks
Tries – Mujati, Ioane, James, Edwards (2), Tuitupou
Pen –
Con – Cipriani (3), Ford
Drop –

London Irish
Tries – Penalty
Pen – Geraghty
Con – Geraghty
Drop –

Match Officials
Referee :Greg Garner (89th Premiership game).
Assistant Referees: Steve Lee & Gareth Copsey.
TMO: Keith Lewis.

Teams

Sale Sharks

15. Mike Haley, 14. Will Addison, 13. Sam James, 12. Sam Tuitupou, 11. Nev Edwards, 10. Danny Cipriani, 9. Peter Stringer, 1. Eifion Lewis-Roberts, 2. Tommy Taylor, 3. Brian Mujati, 4. Bryn Evans, 5. Andrei Ostrikov, 6. TJ Ioane, 7. David Seymour (capt.), 8. Josh Beaumont

Replacements: 16. Neil Briggs, 17. Ross Harrison, 18. Vadim Cobilas, 19. Jonathan Mills, 20. Cameron Neild, 21. Chris Cusiter, 22. Joe Ford, 23. Tom Arscott.

London Irish

15. Sean Maitland; 14. Topsy Ojo; 13. Ciaran Hearn; 12. Johnny Williams; 11. Aseli Tikoirotuma; 10. Shane Geraghty; 9. Brendan McKibbin; 1. Tom Court; 2. David Paice; 3. Halani Aulika; 4. Matt Symons (Captain); 5. Will Lloyd; 6. Ofisa Treviranus; 7. Conor Gilsenan; 8. Luke Narraway

Replacements: 16. Gerard Ellis; 17. Johnny Harris; 18. Leo Halavatau; 19. Jebb Sinclair; 20. Rob McCusker; 21. Scott Steele; 22. Theo Brophy Clews; 23. Andrew Fenby