By Jonathan Noad
October 12 2002

Despite having long periods of possession Sale lost this game which they should have won. Sale were hampered by the loss of Charlie Hodgson before the match, the sin binning of Jason Robinson, some bizarre decision making by the referee and some mediocre performances in the backs. Sale came out with all guns blazing and frequently challenged the Bourgoin defence. It was not until the twelth minute though that a surge forward produced a blistering try from full back Robinson which was duly converted by stand in fly half Nick Walshe. A few minutes later Walshe added a penalty to take Sale into a 10-0 lead. However, Bourgoin were still in the game with a penalty. The referee then awarded Bourgoin a penalty try for no apparent reason much to the dismay of the Sharks players. This took the cores level to 10-10.

A great move was then set up by the in form Robinson who off loaded to Steve Hanley to score a try in the corner. Walshe missed the difficult conversion in driving rain. At half time the Sharks led 15-10.

In the second half Dan Harris came on for Jos Baxendell. The wet conditions produced many handling errors. The ball went loose towards the Sale try line and Robibnson and Bourgoin’s Bonet raced towards it Robinson reaching the ball first. However, Robinson was adjudged to have held Bonet back and a penalty try was awarded. If that wasn’t enough the referee sin binned Robinson. You could see that Jason was not happy by the way he walked off. Earlier in the game Jason had received a stiff challenge without the ball from Bourgoin flanker Chabal which went unpunished. It is about time referees were consistent. A successful conversion took Bourgoin into the lead for the first time 15-17. A further Nick Walshe penalty then reclaimed the lead for Sale. Robinson did not return to the pitch being replaced by Vaughan Going.

Against the run of play Bourgoin scored another try and converted taking the score to 18-24. Following this Sale were camped on the Bourgoin try line for some time and had to suffer uncontested scrums as the French side did not have a full front row on the pitch. However, it produced no reward.

Sale should not be too disappointed as they could have and should have won. Walshe missed several kicks and his organisation is not the same as the missing Hodgson. This was, however, his first full game for Sharks in that position. Bryan Redpath was again in scintillating form bossing the game and the forwards performed well against a big French pack. The Sharks next game is away at Glasgow where hopefully Hodgson will be back to orchestrate the midfield.

SALE SHARKS

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

Replacements: Marais, Yates, Turner, Perelini, Wilks, Harris, Going.

Scorers : Walshe (1C, 2P), Robinson (T), Hanley (T)