Nev Edwards scored two tries for Sale Sharks in their narrow defeat away to Gloucester in the Aviva Premiership on Friday night.
The Sharks were unable to get their elusive first away win as Gloucester shot from 10th in the table to seventh.
Edwards, who signed his first professional rugby contract with Sale in the pre-season, described the match as bittersweet.
“I’m happy with scoring the two tries, but the result isn’t what we wanted,” he said.
“We’ve been practising all week to get a result but we didn’t deliver against Gloucester.
“It’s very frustrating. There were points in the game where we were in total control but we let that slip at crucial times, and that’s what cost us the game in the end.
“At this level you can’t afford to make basic errors consistently and give away penalties in the opposition’s 22, and you’ve got to take all those chances that are given as you don’t get many, so it’s very disappointing.”
Steve Diamond praised his new winger, despite expressing disappointment at his side’s error-strewn performance.
“He’s (Edwards) coming through and doing well. Though there is a little bit of frustration there, we gave the ball away pretty easy when we were in their 22.
“They didn’t turn the ball over in the crucial stages under pressure, and we’re just frustrated with that.
“Our basics at the lineout let us down again and that’s what has cost us the victory again.
“We can’t be nearly men all the time so we’ve just got to get our pressure situations sorted out in our team, kick our goals and kick our field possession when we get there.”
Sale return to European Rugby Challenge Cup this weekend with a trip to Castres, an encounter Edwards hopes his side can use to reinvigorate their campaign.
“We’ve got to get back in, review and make sure we bounce back from this,” he added.
Image courtesy of Premiership Rugby via YouTube, with thanks.
