Premiership: Raffi Quirke shines as Sale Sharks power past Leicester Tigers while Gloucester hold off Bath

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Raffi Quirke celebrates try Sale Sharks v Leicester Tigers Premiership 2022 - PA.jpg

Sale maintained their perfect start to their 2022/23 Premiership campaign as they sealed a superb come-from-behind victory over the champions, Leicester Tigers, at Welford Road on Saturday.

It was a memorable return for England scrum-half Raffi Quirke, who was back in action for the first time in six months after recovering from a torn hamstring. The 21-year-old was a half-time replacement and inspired his team to victory as they were trailing 16-12 at the interval.

Quirke scored one of the visitors’ four tries which condemned the Tigers to their second successive defeat.

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Freddie Burns opened the scoring for Leicester with a penalty after six minutes after Sale’s defence, stretched by a good break by Harry Potter, were pinged for offside.

But it was the Sharks who had the game’s first try in the 11th minute as Tom O’Flaherty almost got away before his fellow winger Tom Roebuck slipped through some flimsy tackling to score down the left.

Rob du Preez missed the conversion, giving Burns the chance to kick the Tigers 6-5 ahead with his second penalty after Potter was obstructed when trying to claim a high ball.

Following another successful kick at goal by Burns, as Sale’s discipline let them down again, Leicester went over for their first score of the afternoon after 29 minutes.

Potter caused problems again down the left, as it took a last-ditch tackle by Manu Tuilagi to stop him, but Jasper Wiese picked up before being helped over in the corner by a gaggle of team-mates.

Sale were quickly back in the picture however, as Gus Warr played the ball off the back of a scrum to Du Preez, who weaved his way through to score before converting to reduce the hosts’ lead to 16-12.

The game was then turned on its head eight minutes into the second half when Quirke broke through down the right before timing his pass to put Sharks captain Tom Curry in the clear.

The Sharks had their bonus-point try in the 54th minute when Joe Carpenter made a break on the left wing before passing to Quirke, who had a comfortable run in.

It then took a superb tackle by Tigers full-back Freddie Steward to stop O’Flaherty getting on the scoresheet as well and just about keep the hosts in the contest.

Having made one try and scored another, Quirke then prevented one at the other end by scampering back to stop Matt Scott in his tracks inches from the try line after the ball ran loose.

Du Preez then missed the chance to extend Sale’s lead further by pushing a penalty wide, but by then time was running out for Leicester to mount a comeback.

Gloucester continue Bath’s misery

Bath’s search for their first win of the season continues after their forward-led fightback fell agonisingly short in a 21-17 Premiership defeat to Gloucester.

Trailing 14-0 and 21-7 at the Recreation Ground, Bath went on to dominate a compelling second half, but having crossed through Tom Dunn and Niall Annett, they could not finish off their west country rivals.

Two missed conversions from replacement fly-half Orlando Bailey ultimately proved the difference, with Adam Hastings nailing all three of his in a match that produced a try count of 3-3.

In the end, first half tries from Matias Alemanno (2) and Santiago Socino with Hastings’ conversions helped Gloucester to secure victory while Bath’s other points came courtesy of a Miles Reid try in the opening period which was converted by Piers Francis.

Ollie Lawrence made a strong debut following his loan move from relegated crisis club Worcester, providing some of the punch Bath have lacked from their carriers so far this season.

But despite perfect conditions for enterprising rugby, the afternoon was dominated by the two packs and all six tries were scored by forwards, although Lawrence, Joe Cokanasiga and Mark Atkinson shone in their attempts to make something happen.

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