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Sale Sharks 20 Harlequins 13

Jenny Dixon
30/ 1/2008

SHARKS finally shook off the shackles applied by Harlequins to keep their home winning record intact on Friday.

Despite fielding a fierce pack, Sharks struggled to break the suffocating grip of the visitors until the 52nd minute when Mark Cueto created space by eluding three tackles and giving winger Oriol Ripol room to race over the tryline.

The touchdown gave Sharks a 15-6 lead over determined Harlequins who had used a number of spoiling tactics, which were particularly apparent and woefully under-punished in the scrum.

Initially Sale’s forwards looked to possess the strength and drive to easily punch holes in the visitors’ defensive line, Chris Jones burrowing through a melee of bodies to score the first try on eight minutes.

Quins were pinned back in the early stages, but hooker Sebastien Bruno looked to have thrown away Sharks’ advantage when he tossed the lineout ball over the heads of his attacking team-mates.

However, Adrian Jarvis’ poor pass into touch handed Sale another line-out just metres from Quins’ line and, this time, Sebastien Chabal snatched the ball which Jones took over the tryline.

Flyhalf Charlie Hodgson converted to give Sale a confidence boosting 7-0 lead.

The work ethic was present in Sharks’ pack but a lack of invention, coupled with a number of mistakes, in particular in the line-out, meant the high-paced game was not reflected in the scoreline.

Jarvis kicked Quins to within a point with two successful penalties, on 30 and 34 minutes.

Sharks went close to a second try before the break when Luke McAlister demonstrated the footballing skills developed in his youth, at Manchester United, dribbling a loose ball into the 22.

Ripol and Hodgson attempted to boot it closer still but scrambled cover from Tom Guest halted Sale.

Hodgson missed a penalty on the cusp of half-time meaning Sharks returned to their dressing room with a narrow 7-6 lead.

In the second half, Sale suffered further injustice in the scrummage and appeared to panic, though both time and a slim points’ advantage were in their favour.

Lee Thomas crossed the whitewash next but the video referee could not allow the try to stand - the Sale centre losing control of the ball before it was grounded.

Though it ended in disappointment the inch-perfect attacking manoeuvre, featuring Richard Wigglesworth, Hodgson and Rory Lamont, provided a timely and valuable reminder of what Sharks’ strong team were capable of.

McAlister, a temporary kicking replacement for Hodgson who was dazed after being clipped by a rival’s boot, calmed matters with a penalty in the 51st minute.

The pressure on Sharks was relieved when fullback Cueto caught a clearance kick by his England colleague David Strettle who he subsequently dodged on his foray into Quins’ half.

Lamont received the offload and sped into the 22, passing to fellow wing Ripol, who crossed the whitewash.

He was followed closely by Hal Luscombe, whose knee rammed into Ripol’s back and heralded the replacement of Ripol minutes later.

Quins managed to steer themselves back into contention with a converted try by substitute hooker Tani Fuga.

But the last kick belonged to Hodgson, who scored a penalty to ensure Sharks ended on a high.