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Sale Sharks 22 Bath 6

Jenny Dixon
2/ 4/2008

BATH became the second team in as many games to be knocked off the Guinness Premiership top spot by Sharks.

Having felled Gloucester at their peak, Sharks, who boast the best defence in the league, conceded just six points at their boggy Stockport base on Friday night.

Sharks’ flyhalf Charlie Hodgson defied the wind, rain and mud to score 17 points and set up Oriol Ripol’s try with a fine crossfield kick.

There was uncertainty about whether the game would go ahead on the sodden Edgeley Park pitch, following several heavy downpours.

But a potentially dour encounter was averted by ambitious Sharks, hero Hodgson and dogged defence.

Hodgson opened the scoring with successful penalties on three and eight minutes, as the forwards began their muddy toil.

Though there were inevitable handling errors, the slippery conditions did not sap either sides’ endeavour to run with the ball and a dull kicking contest was averted.

Bath’s number 10 Shaun Berne, having failed with his first kick from the half-way line, got his side off the mark with his second attempt.

However, three points was all he could muster for the visitors before being forced off the field missing three teeth after an alleged stray elbow.

Bath lost prop Duncan Bell at the same time, after 21 minutes, due to a calf strain.

Olly Barkley replaced Berne, but he too was overshadowed by Hodgson who successfully landed a drop goal before setting up Ripol’s ninth try of the season. From a Sharks scrum, awarded for a knock-on, Richard Wigglesworth sent the ball to Hodgson who launched a crossfield kick towards Ripol on the wing. Bath winger Andrew Higgins clinched the ball first but fumbled, allowing Ripol to scoop it up and score.

Hodgson posted the difficult touchline conversion to give Sharks a 16-3 lead at the break.

In the second half, as the weather worsened and playing an open game became more perilous, Sharks showcased their defensive capabilities, allowing nothing but a single Barkley penalty past them.

Hodgson deservedly finished off the scoring with two more penalties, keeping an immaculate personal record in the filthiest of conditions.

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