By Jonathan Noad
September 30 2002

This was a game Sale could easily have lost with a lack of cutting edge in the backs and lacklustre passing. However, this team never gives up – the sign of a good team is one that can play poorly but still win. It was not until well into the second half that Sale started playing. Quins were missing several key players such as Will Greenwood, Dan Luger, Keith Wood and Paul Burke. They led for much of the game thanks to an opening try by former Sharks favourite Pat Sanderson. Quins new Fijian signing Satala fed winger Gollings who outpaced Sale’s Cueto and sent Quins number 7 Sanderson crashing over.

Had some poor passing which led to Hanley knocking on several times found hands Sale would have run away with the game in the first half. However, at half time the Sharks had little to show apart from some points from the boot of the reliable Charlie Hodgson. Despite putting continued pressure on Sale could not cross the Quins line. Even with the sin binning of Tiatia for a late tackle on Hodgson (something which is happening frequently this season) the Quins defence soaked up the pressure. At the interval Quins were leading 3-11.

Jim Mallinder and Steve Diamond will have no doubt told the players about their first half performance. It certainly showed and shortly after the break a huge charge forward involving most of the Sale team led to Hodgson crossing Sale’s opening try and adding the conversion. This brought the game very close and both teams opted for the kicking game losing the ball frequently in the floodlights.

Half way through the half though Sale wing Mark Cueto raced over to score under the posts following a great lineout which Hodgson converted. At this point it seemed like Sale might have started to run away with the game but it never happened. A further penalty kick took the Sharks further into the lead before Harlequins scored a try in injury time from replacement Sherriff. Had Slemen converted then the Quins would have taken the lead and possibly the game. With just one point in it Hodgson dropped a goal at the death to seal an unconvincing win for the Sharks.

This match should have given the team a wake up call they need before facing London Irish on Saturday and the start of their first Heineken Cup campaign.

SALE SHARKS

Robinson; Cueto, Baxendell, Deane, Hanley; Hodgson, Redpath; Thorp, Titterrell, Stewart; Jones, Lines; A Sanderson, Pinkerton, Anglesea.

Replacements: Marais, Yates, Schofield, Perelini, Harris, Going, Walshe.

Scorers : Hodgson (T, 2C, 1P, 1DG), Cueto (T)

HARLEQUINS

N Williams; Moore, Greenstock, Satala, Gollings; D Slemen, Bemand; Leonard, Fuga, Gomez; Davison, Evans; Tiatia, Sanderson, Diprose.

Replacements: Rudzki, Starr, Cardinalli, Miall, Sheriff, Jewell, Duncombe.

Scorers : Slemen (1P), Williams (1DG), Sanderson (T), Sheriff (T)