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Jets tame Tigers as Sale run in seven

27/ 8/2008

SALE Jets were triumphant in an 11-try friendly at Edgeley Park on Friday night.

A number of first-team players took to the pitch alongside younger academy members as Sharks coaches perused their selection options ahead of the new season.

Among the senior players to start were winger Oriol Ripol, new centre signing Andy Tuilagi, scrum-half Will Cliff, lock Brent Cockbain, hooker Scott Lawson and flanker Neil Briggs.

The Jets got off to a shaky start against National One side Sedgley Tigers, whose attacking presence in the opening 10 minutes was rewarded with a try for flanker Juan Crous.

Sale took slightly longer to settle, but once fly-half Mark Atkinson scored three points from a penalty they experienced a try rush borne of attacking flair and ambition.

Ripol crossed first, after 17 minutes. Although Atkinson was off the mark with the conversion and a subsequent penalty, he added points with Sale’s try from a ruck.

The conversion hit the uprights, but the Jets had found their feet and captain Alex Shaw, full-back Ed Styles and prop Rob O’Donnell all scored tries during an eight minute blitz.

Atkinson successfully converted two of the three, giving Jets a commanding 32-5 lead at the interval.

Sedgley’s hopes of recovery were dashed just three minutes into the second half when Tuilagi crossed the tryline, swiftly followed by Ripol, for his second touchdown of the match.

The visitors managed to claw their way back as Sale’s increasingly tired defence, made idle by their unassailable lead, allowed Sedgley’s captain Phil Jones to scramble under the posts twice, and convert his own efforts.

Ollie Cook added Tigers fourth, unconverted, try but the final score of 44-24 demonstrated Sale’s dominance.