Diamond still positive despite loss

Editor

Sale boss Steve Diamond praised his side's endeavour but claimed a lack of composure cost them in Saturday's loss to Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park.

Tries from Josh Beaumont and Will Addison weren't enough for Sale, as they competed for the first 60 minutes, but the Chiefs showed their class and took the game away from the Sharks, to leave them with nothing.

"I think we were in it for 60 minutes, but a little bit of inexperience and lack of composure lets us down a little bit," said Diamond.

"I think we were worthy of a bonus point but those conditions are hard. We just lost that arm wrestle.

"Our endeavour was good, they are a good side. We're playing a Top Four side, and you've got to get your skill set right and we didn't do that in certain areas."

"Half a dozen young lads played today, so they'll learn from this experience.

"Chiefs have a dominant drive and we managed to nullify that, plus our scrum went well. And at the end of the day, we couldn't finish it off in the last part of the game."