Cipriani: Birthday gift to Sharks
Sale claimed their first Aviva Premiership win of the season at the eighth attempt as they beat London Irish 21-9 at City of Salford Stadium.
The Sharks were deserved winners after scoring the only two tries of the night in the first half through Nick Macleod and Johnny Leota, and while they remain bottom of the table, victory moves them to within four points of the Irish and Welsh Exiles.
Former England fly-half Danny Cipriani played a key role for Sale, setting up both first-half tries, as well as adding a conversion. Irish's response before the break came through a penalty from Ian Humphreys.
Humphreys kicked two more three-pointers in the second period to reduce the deficit, but two late Cipriani penalties sealed the victory.
Despite a nervy opening, solid set-piece work allowed the Sharks to gain a foothold in the match and after they had stolen an Irish lineout, the Sharks drove impressively and forced Irish to infringe, with Macleod edging the home team ahead with eight minutes gone.
It seemed to settle them down and they added to that lead soon after when fly-half Cipriani sent the full-back over.
London Irish did reduce the arrears when Humphreys kicked three points, but it was the Sharks who continued to threaten when Leota charged through the defensive line.
The scorers:
For Sale Sharks:
Tries: Macleod, Leota
Con: Cipriani
Pens: Macleod, Cipriani 2
For London Irish:
Pens: Humphreys 3
Sale Sharks: 15 Nick Macleod, 14 Mark Cueto, 13 Johnny Leota, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Cameron Shepherd, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Cillian Willis, 8 Andy Powell 7 David Seymour (c), 6 Richie Vernon, 5 Fraser McKenzie, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Tony Buckley, 2 Tommy Taylor, 1 Ross Harrison.
Replacements: 16 Joe Ward, 17 Eifion Lewis-Roberts, 18 Vadim Cobilas, 19 Kearnan Myall, 20 Mark Easter, 21 Dwayne Peel, 22 Rob Miller, 23 Tom Brady
London Irish: 15 Anthony Watson, 14 Topsy Ojo, 13 Guy Armitage, 12 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 11 Marland Yarde, 10 Ian Humphreys, 9 Darren Allinson, 8 Chris Hala'ufia 7 Jamie Gibson, 6 Declan Danaher (c), 5 Matt Garvey, 4 Bryn Evans, 3 Halani Aulika, 2 Scott Lawson, 1 Max Lahiff.
Replacements: 16 Brian Blaney, 17 Cai Griffiths, 18 Leo Halavatau, 19 George Skivington, 20 Ofisa Treviranus, 21 Steven Shingler, 22 Shane Geraghty, 23 Jack Moates
Referee: Sean Davey
Comments
NHsaints says...
Yeeeeees, c'mon sharks! I do not want to see another northern team go down!
Posted 10:18 03rd November 2012
JamieTheProp says...
Please nobody start calling for Cipriani to be picked for the elite squad - he set up 2 tries - so what? That is what a fly half is supposed to do!
Posted 08:34 03rd November 2012