Sale Sharks moved to the top of the Premiership with a bonus point victory over their northern rivals Newcastle Falcons in a feisty affair.
The victory was secured with tries from Ben Curry, Rob Du Preez, Sam James, Tom Roebuck, and two from Arron Reed, along with five Du Preez conversions.
Newcastle remain winless despite a spirited effort scoring four tries Louis Brown, Callum Chick, Bryan Byrne, and Iwan Stephens, along with Joe Thomas’ conversion.
Falcons flew out the gate as Brown scored a try in the corner using their penalty advantage from the lineout perfectly in the third minute.
Sale responded in the 11th minute as they rapidly moved the ball wide from a lineout before Arron Reed touched down expertly.
Chick made it 10-5 in the 22nd minute as Falcons punished Sale with a try from a lineout following some ill-discipline from the Sharks.
Falcons lead only lasted seven minutes before ill-discipline allowed Ben Curry to score a try from a lineout – Du Preez added two points with the conversion.
Sale’s extended the margin to 19-10 as Du Preez first added a try under the posts before another conversion in the 32nd minute.
The bonus point was secured before halftime as Reed scored his second try off a set piece before another conversion made it 26-10 to Sale.
Second-half proceedings were ignited by a Byrne try as he powered over in the corner in the 51st minute.
Three minutes later, Newcastle scored their bonus point try as Stephens chased down a kick from a quick turnover before Thomas added his first conversion making it 26-22.
Sharks managed to hold off a barrage of Newcastle pressure for the rest of the half before relief came in the closing stages with a converted James try.
Roebuck would add some polish to the score as he scored a try after the 80th minute before Du Preez added his fifth conversion to win the game 40-22.
Scorers:
Sale Sharks: Reed (try x2), Curry (try), Du Preez (try, con x5) James (try), Roebuck (try)
Newcastle Falcons: Brown (try), Chick (try), Bryne (try), Stephens (try), Thomas (con)
Feature Image: Brendan McGilligan
