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Sale Sharks 21 Bath 24

Jenny Dixon
29/10/2008

A NARROW three-point defeat crushed Sharks’ hopes of challenging for the EDF Energy Cup this season.

Sharks’ third consecutive home loss, against Bath on Friday night, has ruled them out of progressing in the Anglo-Welsh competition.

In the first half Sharks looked likely to turn around the team’s fortunes at Edgeley Park, where they had previously slipped up against Cardiff and Munster.

Flyhalf Charlie Hodgson, a man with a point to prove having been left out of the starting line-up for two Heineken Cup matches, kicked two penalties in the opening 10 minutes and set up the first of Chris Bell’s two tries.

On 24 minutes, Hodgson sent an inch-perfect crossfield kick to Mark Cueto on the wing, and he passed the ball inside to Bell who outpaced the Bath defence and made it over the tryline first.

Hodgson, who has been relieved of kicking duties this season in favour of centre Luke McAlister, posted the conversion to give Sharks a 13-0 lead.

The control that Sharks had held over the game for more than 30 minutes was relinquished after an interception by academy winger Rhys Crane in Bath’s 22.

As he was brought to a stand-still by Nick Royle in mid-field, a fracas broke out and Sharks’ lock Brent Cockbain was sent to the sin-bin.

Royle also had to leave the pitch with an ankle injury.

With a one-man advantage, Bath scored their first try on the cusp of half-time through Stuart Hooper, the conversion by Jack Cuthbert putting the scores at 13-7 at the break.

Two converted tries during a seven-minute spell of the second half gave Bath a lead that they refused to relinquish.

Cuthbert and Hodgson exchanged penalties before former rugby league man Shontayne Hape scored his debut try. It came from a fine break by flyhalf Eliot Fuimaono-Sapolu and Cuthbert’s conversion gave Bath the lead for the first time.

Minutes later winger Michael Stephenson touched down. The conversion giving Bath a 24-16 lead.

Bell scored his second try for Sharks in the final 10 minutes but Hodgson missed the conversion and though he got within inches of the try-line a last gasp tackle by Crane denied Sharks victory.

Head coach of Bath, Steve Meehan, was surprised by the result. "At 13-0 down I thought ‘here we go again’ as we haven’t had a lot of luck here over the last couple of seasons," he said.

"Sale are a very good team anywhere they have a lot of spirit and a lot of class. To sneak a one-point win over Sale we would be happy with that so we are very happy with a three-point win."