Sale Sharks scored their first bit of silverware in nine years despite a heavy defeat to Leicester Tigers on Saturday.
The Kings of the North tournament finished with both sides on 15 points but Sharks edged the victory with their superior points difference.
Steve Diamond admitted that, though he was pleased with his side emerging as champions, that there were still things to work on heading into the Aviva Premiership opener against Saracens next weekend.
He said: “It has been a good competition. I think all three teams have really benefited from it so it was a good win for us.”
The Aviva Premiership finally gets underway next weekend, after a long pre-season owing to the World Cup, and Diamond was happy for his side to have had the opportunity to be tested by Leicester and for some key players to get match fit.
“We did well in certain areas, we had to get Sam Tuitupou through 40 minutes and Magnus Lund hasn’t played since last season so we got some decent game time,” he said.
Try-scorer Mark Jennings has said that Sale’s hard work in training is starting to pay off heading in to the start of the Aviva Premiership season next week.
“We have been working really well on the training paddock,” said the centre.
“For the last two games we have put in good performances, we have rotated the squad and there were a lot of new faces.”
He described the team’s disappointment at not being able to produce a better result and felt that a lot of points went begging for the Manchester-based side.
However Jennings conceded that coming away with some silverware was a confidence booster for the Sharks: “We have come away with the trophy which is a big positive for us going into the Saracens game.”
New signing Brian Mujati told MM that the club has big plans for the upcoming Premiership season.
“You can’t read too much into the games so far but it’s a really young and exciting team to be part of.
“I can feel the desire in the squad, the club is making a big push to improve performances,” he said.
Image courtesy of Sale Sharks via YouTube, with thanks.
