By Sarah Braide
January 30 2003

The cross-code game on Monday night was a great success not only because of the scoreline (which was very nice!) but for the good turnout (12,000) and friendly spirit that the event was taken in. Sale had a scary moment at the beginning of the second, league half when St Helens scored 12 points in four minutes but to their credit our boys seemed to cotton on to the other code and defended their tryline successfully for ages. And who can blame them for using the differences between the codes to their advantage in the first half? Sale were accused of being boring and using driving mauls all the time. Well to some Saints fans' eyes it might have looked dull but to the more discerning Sale fan that is an integral part of the game.

Jos Baxendell really got into the game and starred in both halves. In the union half, Steve Hanley put in some big tackles and Mark Cueto was good under the high balls.

salerugby.co.uk's eyes and ears at the game had not a bad word to say about the Saints supporters. They were very friendly and even offered some valuable help in the league half on the rules and reasons for the ref's decisions. This was the view from the expensive seats though. I don't know whether other sections of the crowd were more of a rabble!

Click here for the full report on the official Sale site.

All in all a good game with the right result! Well done Sale, you did us proud. That is more than can be said for the St Helens coaches who complained about our tactics after the match. Steve Diamond (not one to shy away from confrontation) has a few choice words on the matter in Thursday's Mirror.

Loooking forward maybe not to another cross code game (we might not be as lucky next time!) but to a full 80 minutes of union against London Irish on Sunday.