Sale Sharks produced a resolute performance at the AJ Bell as they ran out 23-6 winners over Gloucester Rugby to keep their Aviva Premiership Rugby top four hopes alive.
Johnny Leota and Josh Beaumont scored the tries for Sale while Danny Cipriani showed his quality scoring 13 points with the boot in tricky conditions.
The Sharks sit in seventh place and are well placed to secure elite European rugby next season, but director of rugby Steve Diamond believes his side can aim higher.
He said: “I think today was an eight pointer. You don’t have to be a maths teacher to work that one out.
“This win keeps us in seventh with two home games and two away games to come. If we can do well in those home games then who knows what may happen away.
“With a couple of wins we’ll see where we are at, but I am delighted with the performance.”
In the reverse fixture at Kingsholm Sale led at the interval and ended up being overhauled as the game finished 34-27 to Glousceter.
There were no such issues this time as the Salford club limited the away side to two first-half penalties from James Hook and boss Diamond praised his side’s dominance.
“We opted to go against the wind and the rain so we turned round slightly in front, which is always good.
“After the break I thought Danny (Cipriani) and Chris Cusiter controlled the game magnificently, and the forwards really turned up to put the meat on the table as they say.
“On top of that, our defence was absolutely outstanding.”
Both Mark Cueto and Magnus Lund marked milestones, reaching 300 and 100 Premiership appearances for the club respectively.
Sharks travel to the Madejski Stadium on 12 April to face London Irish after the European club rugby break.
Main image courtesy of Sale Sharks via YouTube, with thanks.
