Jimmy 'The Wizard' Gopperth will get a lot of the back pages but his creativity and kicking were matched by the front row power of Grant Shiells and Kieran Brookes and James Hudson's lineout domination.

From dawn onwards yesterday social networks showed messages of support and tension about this vital game, but the general mood was that we could be in for a special evening.

The nuisance of the workday crawled along until finally it was time to head off to Stockport. Three coach-loads came from Kingston Park while enough others travelled independently to guarantee a strong away presence on the terraces. Even the absence of Carl Hayman couldn't dampen the atmosphere.

Jimmy Gopperth kicked two penalties after Charlie Hodgson missed a chance to put Sale ahead. The second one might have been more if we had tapped quickly five metres out, but Gopperth battered his way over the try-line soon enough anyway right in front of the screaming Geordie hordes.

The conversion gave us a dream 0-13 start, although a penalty by Hodgson reduced the lead. Just after the half-hour Sale's running game paid dividends with Marika Vakacegu scoring in the corner and Hodgson converted.

Two more penalties from Gopperth however gave us a nine-point advantage at half-time, secured by some sterling defensive work in the final few seconds of the half. The first 40 had been incredibly exciting with both teams looking to run the ball where possible and the result still completely in the balance.

Gopperth extended the lead just after the break and for the first time we dared to believe it was possible, and with Sale threatening James Hudson pounced on a loose ball to allow us to clear. However, Hodgson's boot kicked over three unanswered penalties and a drop-goal to equalise.

From a lineout in their 22 however Sale lost the ball and Micky Young pounced to score our second try, and though Gopperth converted from out wide and Hodgson quickly kicked another penalty.

With ten minutes left Sale looked like they had scored by the posts, but the referee blew the whistle and surprisingly gave the hosts a scrum, from which Kristian Ormsby scored anyway. The vital conversion missed, and now we were behind for the first time.

With a one-point deficit, my mindset changed slightly. The worry that we might lose the lead was gone as we were now in a more familiar position, unfortunately.

It was simple now – either score or rely on Leeds to save us from a last-day relegation shoot-out. A drop-goal missed but with five minutes left we won a penalty. Some supporters couldn't watch. Captain Gopperth stepped up and kicked the ball high into the Cheshire night. It's all up to the touch judges now. The flags...went up, and sparked pandemonium in the east corner of the DLA Piper Stand!

Oh my life! Just minutes to go and a two-point lead, the task on the pitch was defend for your lives, off the pitch to shout and chant with whatever voice we had left. Into the last couple of minutes, Sale's forwards foraged away on the 22 and tried to get Hodgson into a drop-goal position. Josh Afu was poised to charge him but eventually Hodgson found a good and unmarked spot.

With just seconds on the clock, the former England man kicked and it looked like the ball had gone over. Actually, it dropped to Amesbury just to the right of the posts, and his touchdown ended the match.

Phew! I'm knackered just writing that! The players came over to celebrate with the travelling fans and it all got too much for one supporter who ran onto the pitch to hug a number of players. The rest of us kept singing and drinking , and gave those players we saw outside the stadium a rousing send-off back north. This game was everything that rugby should be, the glory and entertainment of Bristol and Bath combined with the tension and relief of Irish and Wasps.

If any fan was thinking “Why do I still bother?” on their way to last night's game, now they have their answer.

For me, I am reminded of an advert I once saw that read: Some games leave you high, some games leave you low. Some games just never leave you.

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