But on the day, everything went to plan - we DID make it to Stockport in time for kick-off.

This was our first trip ooop-north to Sale's Edgeley Park. Walking to the ground from our hotel, our spirits were lifted by seeing others decked out in green, so much so that we completely forgot we were heading for the Royal Oak and went straight to the stadium. No matter, the traditional pre-match pints, burger & chips and Sale branded credit card salesmen were waiting for us in the car park.

Once through the turnstiles, the dizzy oxygen-poor heights of the upper tier in the printerland stand beckoned. Fortunately, base camp 1 sold beer in 2 pint glasses for a fiver, so essential supplies were purchased and the climb continued. Despite buying our tickets over t'internet a week ago (long after Tony had sent back the LI allocation) we were luckily placed with the rest of the LI fans. The overhead view was good, top-right corner behind the posts, but it became very clear that identifying players was going to be a challenge from such a distance/height. Not good when faced with writing some semblance of a match report afterwards!

There can't have been more than about 3 dozen LI fans that had managed to make the journey. Fortunately everyone was in good voice and we soon were booming out The Fields. The stadium was deceptively empty, it looked like we could spread out a bit once the match kicked off as we were packed like sardines. No chance. I missed the first 5 minutes of the game thanks to everyone seeming to come in on the stroke of kick-off.

First notable play was Mark Cueto marking a LI kick ahead, taking it quickly and beating a number of our players before being brought down.

This fast pace was to stay for the whole game. Both teams were hungry for the win, neither could afford to lose and the players knew it. Tackles were hard, quick ball was served and both teams were trying everything and anything to break the other side down. First blood eventually went to Sale after 11 minutes (according the highly visible countdown clock) and it was 3-0.

The pace of the game was showing on the poor ref. Not even a quarter of the game gone, he was already standing at the back of the lineouts (from the Meet the Ref night, a sure sign of a tired ref). Strong crosswinds on the park were making kicks difficult, although fortunately it was staying dry. The game settled into an almost soothing rhythm. LI kick ahead, Sale run it back. Lather, rinse and repeat.

20 minutes in and Sale tried for a drop goal. Unfortunately (for them), the wind had died and the ball sailed (pun not intended) dead straight and right of the posts. No matter, the ball went back for a penalty and Sale's fly half Thomas didn't miss this time.

Coetzee went off with what turned out to be a broken cheekbone. That was the first of our hookers gone. A 5m attacking LI lineout was spun out wide, allowing Tagicakibau to run it in at the far side, just inside touch. Geraghty hit the upright with the difficult conversion. 6-5, at least we were on the score sheet. About a minute later, Sale infringed on their 22m line, right in front of the posts. Shane grabbed the easy 3 points, putting LI into the lead. Much singing and dancing in the upper reaches of printerland. Not much noise elsewhere as Sale fans were stunned into silence.

The try was nearly followed by another, but went back for a Sale knock at in the centre spot. Sale were caught offside from the resulting scrum and here was Shane's chance for another 3 points. From the perfect viewing angle behind the posts, it was only just wide, but a miss is still a miss.

A few minutes before the break and LI had a penalty. Rather than the points, Shane kicked for the corner - a clear sign that the LI team wanted this game. Good LI attacking play was matched with good defence from the sharks until the clock finally reached 0:00 and the ball was kicked dead. Half time and almost unbelievably LI were holding onto a narrow lead of 6-8.

The second half started much the same as the first. Not the rugby, but the fact that I couldn't see for the first 5 minutes or so thanks to everyone coming back to their seats. Couldn't stop me hearing that we'd got a penalty straight after the break though. 6-11.

A LI cross-field kick went too far and straight into touch, but Sale had been caught doing something naughty (someone was in the way again, so I missed it) so the ball came back to LI for another attempt. All the play was on the left hand side at this point, Topsy yelled, waved and ran full steam into the vast open area for the clear run to the try-line, but Shane had already lined up for the drop goal. 6-14.

Another chance soon came for Topsy when he intercepted a Sale pass with no-one between him and the line, but couldn't hold onto the ball, knocking it on. This was the last LI attack for some time as it was now Sale's chance. Time and time again Sale attacked, but couldn't penetrate the mean green wall. The LI defence was not yielding. Buckling in places, yes, but all Sale could do in our 22 was knock on, and this they kept doing. Sale attacked, get into our 22 and knocked on in the tackle. A few overlaps were missed - there was a clear Sale chance with a 3-on-1 where an offload either way would have lead to a Sale try, but fortunately for us they seemed to want to justify their places in the squad rather than play as a coherent team.

The much anticipated rain finally arrived. Surely it would become a kicking game from here on in?

The frustration showed in a subsequent scrum where Sale were sent back a further 10m for backchat. Sale passed along the line, and straight into touch. Concentration seemed to be waning. The game was still very physical, despite the late hour, and who better to bring onto the pitch to calm things down? Yup, Geezer made his appearance from the bench with 14 minutes to go.

A great attack from the blues was stopped 5m out by a crunching tackle from Geezer, only to be followed by many more Sale players vying for the line. LI conceded a penalty, which was duly taken to close the gap. 9-14.

Sale seemed certain to get the try to level the scores, but somehow the Irish were holding them 5m out. Fantastic defence. Magne came on for an exhausted Big Bob and the tide started to change. LI finally got out of their 22m and back up into the other end of the pitch. More changes from the bench brought on our secret flanker, Saint Barry for the injured prop Lea'aetoa. We'd lost both our hookers and a prop so scrums were now uncontested. There were about 4 minutes left on the clock and we had all 3 fly halves now on the pitch (Geraghty, Everitt and Flutey). It wasn't long before Saint Barry spotted a chance but the drop goal attempt was wide.

At this point, Sale fans around us had now given up and were exiting in droves. With minutes to go, this game could still go either way, and people are leaving?! As the countdown clock eases into the final 10 seconds, LI fans started chanting out 10-9-8... 3-2-1 STOP COOKING as the LI team were camped on the Sale 5m line. The ref decided that enough is enough (there were a lot of stoppages in the second half) and it was all over, to much celebration in printerland.

We hadn't beaten Sale since September 2005; many took it as read that we'd fall short again this time. The team and fans joined up at the pitch-side, quote of the night has to go to Big Bob with his simple but heart-felt "Thanks for coming".

With the exhausted players making their way to a well-earned shower, the LI fans returned to the Royal Oak for some much needed refreshment. Good banter with the Sale fans, and celebrations went on well into the night. Until last orders an hour later that is. If you still need an argument against Friday night games, then this is it.

Kebab, taxi, sleep. Then the journey back south beckoned. but fortunately, the journey back was much, much easier and quicker than the one getting there.

Great to see so many familiar faces there, and to meet a few new friends.

Final Score: 9-14

Referee: Rob Debney

Attendance: 9,275

MotM: The entire LI squad

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