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Oops: Saints 26, Sale 11; Wasps 39, Sale 12


By Cap'n Major Bloodnok
March 21 2016

A very tight mid table has stretched out a bit over the last two weeks. Unfortunately, Sale have been at the wrong end of it.

At the end of the Harlequins match report, I said

Now come two away games: Saints and Wasps. Sale could really do with a win in one of these games. At present Glos, Sale and Quins are in 6th, 7th and 8th, all on 38 points. Wasps in 4th are 5 points ahead. Two defeats could see Sale losing ground on the other teams around them. We have that game in hand, but it's not a cert by any means and, anyway, we want it to potentially help us move up the table, not regain lost ground.

Sale got nowt from those two games—less than nowt, since their points difference got worse to the tune of 42 points.

From being on equal league points, we're now 1 behind Glos and 6 behind Quins. That means we need an excess of 7 league points over those two to get into the top 6. And let's not even contemplate top 4 (although I've always held that to be an unrealistic expectation this season): that's 12 points away.

Let's not sugar coat it: those were two bad defeats. Even a losing bonus point in each would have seen us above Glos and in a position to challenge 6th place. That we were without several key players makes the defeat (especially at Wasps) predictable, not excusable. It's the curse of a small squad.

I had expected the home record to go against Saracens. That it didn't gives me some hope that Sale can hold off Leicester on Sunday. Quins are at Saints, so we could make up some ground this weekend, but we could still be behind Gloucester. All fingers will be crossed.

I don't hold out much hope of getting anything from the game in hand. Away at the Rec, midway between Montpelier and Bath at home? Can't see it, really. But hope springs eternal...

Nope, I think we'll end up 7th or 8th this season. If Dimes can get a decent 10 who can kick reliably and has enough vision to make full use of the backs, then I think top 6 is realistic next season.

I hope that the team will prove me wrong and pull out all the stops for the rest of the season, but there's a demon sitting on my shoulder whispering “ain’t gonna happen, old chum”.

 

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