This was not a game to brighten up a grey and mizzly afternoon at Edgeley Park; not, that is, if you were after a feast of running rugby. This was a pedestrian game, dour even; what back moves there were were mostly short, and the rest mostly lateral. The story of the match is the story of the kicks - penalties, drop goals, touch kicks and garryowens.

Sale obviously took a leaf out Newcastle's book from last week and seemed determined to turn Bristol with touch kicks and to test the full back with high, lofted kicks. Charlie showed that he meant business early on with a lovely touch finder from tight to the right touchline, making touch at halfway from within the 22, and soon after lofted the first up-and-under, which put pressure on the Bristol line and forced a clearance kick from a yard out. Another garryowen quickly followed, but a couple of penalties saw Bristol pushing forward with line-outs, before Ashley Rowden awarded Bristol a third penalty - this time within kickable range. The kick went wide, and Sale marched forward from the drop out, gaining a penalty themselves for pulling down in the line out. Lee Thomas came forward to take the penalty from 45m out and to the right of the posts, but this kick went wide as well. Four minutes later, and a Bristol attack from a line out ended with a penalty for a Sale offside. This time, David Hill put the kick through the posts.

14': Sale 0 - Bristol 3

Two minutes later and Bristol strayed offside to give Charlie a simple kick from 30m.

16': Sale 3 - Bristol 3

Sale were starting to put pressure on Bristol by now, and break by Lilo saw Ripol kick ahead, only for the ball to go touch in goal. A promising move, with Raspberry starting to look a bit sharp.

A Sale line out on the Bristol 5m line was taken forward by the pack, and Keil was stopped inches short of the line. From the ruck, Lilo shipped the ball right, and a flick pass from Charlie put Popeye in for the score. Charlie missed the conversion from wide out on the right.

35': Sale 8 - Bristol 3

Another up-and-under resulted in a Sale penalty 40m out and just right of the posts, but Charlie inexplicably missed what should have been a simple kick (well, even Jonny can miss the odd easy one). The Sale scrum was getting pushed around a bit by Bristol, but the line out was much better, with Sale disrupting and stealing several Bristol throws.

Six minutes to half-time and Foden ignores Stan outside him, is taken down and the attack fizzles out. Shortly after, Charlie gives the ball to Ripol, who kicks ahead, but Charlie is just beaten to the touchdown. Thomas missed another penalty attempt just before half-time.

Half time: Sale 8 - Bristol 6

Two minutes into the second half and Stan made a good break from a stolen line out, only to be bundled into touch a couple of metres short of the Bristol line. Bristol kicked for touch from the line out, but only managed to get the ball about 12 metres out. Sale won the line out, and Charlie put his first drop goal over.

43': Sale 11 - Bristol 6

Charlie continued putting in testing touch kicks, getting good distance from defence. Splinters replaced Mandy, and Maggie had to go off following a nasty-looking clout to the head to be replaced by David Tait.

Forty-eight minutes gone, and Sale nick another line out, Bristol go offside, and Charlie kicks the penalty.

48': Sale 14 - Bristol 6

The introduction of Splinters seemed to have shored up the scrum somewhat, but Bristol gained another penalty on Sale's 10m line from just left of the posts. Astonishingly, Hill managed to put the ball even wider with a kick that flew along with all the grace of a constipated duck.

Sale moved downfield from the drop out and eventually a consultation between Rowden and his touch judge resulted in a Sale penalty from 20m, and Charlie converted with ease.

54': Sale 17 - Bristol 8

I have a note in my book - 56 minutes: Stan tackles! Enough said (it was a good 'un, too).

At this point, the game went into pedestrian mode, with little of note happening - the Bristol line out was a shambles, the Sale scrum was a shambles. The only event of any real note was a quick throw taken by Ripol to Lilo, who kicked across field - badly - straight to the Bristol winger Robinson, who dropped it. In a fit of petulance, he kicked the ball away and appeared to hurt his ankle and was taken off. Charlie continued to find good touch - one from his own 10m line resulted in a 5m line out, which Sale again stole. Much excitement, but Bristol held the ball up. A series of pick and drives from the scrum, and Charlie lined up for his second drop goal.

75': Sale 20 - Bristol 6

During the last five minutes, Bristol made a concerted attack on the Sale line, but some excellent defence kept them out, despite several scrums and near breaks from the Bristol pack. The biggest cheer of the afternoon came during this period when referee Rowden found himself at bottom of a pile of bodies following a good hard tackle. Raspberry finally relieved the pressure by putting in a good tackle and gaining a penalty for the Bristol player holding on. Charlie put the penalty into touch to end the game.

Full time: Sale 20 - Bristol 6

So, a needed win, but without any real coherence to the play. Positives to come out of the game were Charlie's tactical kicking, Jonesy stayed on for the full 80 minutes, good defensive work and good line outs. Negatives - no real urgency from the backs for long periods, the scrum was creaky and neither set of forwards really seemed to dominate.

Bath next week will be a step up from this game, and everyone will need to improve if we're to get anything from it.

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