Browse Sections

• Stockport County FC
• Sale Sharks
• Local football
• Local cricket

Sale Sharks 19 Leeds Tykes 10

23/ 2/2005

Zurich Premiership

FOURTEEN points from the boot of Charlie Hodgson helped Sale Sharks to a workmanlike 19-10 win over Leeds Tykes at Edgeley Park on Friday night.

And despite watching his side suffer their 11th league defeat of the season, Leeds head coach Phil Davies was quick to offer his praise to England's under-fire star.

"I'm pleased for Charlie Hodgson to be honest, he's a top quality performer and I'm just disappointed he had to kick the goals against us," he said, before turning his attention to his own side who have slipped to third bottom.

"There were things to be pleased about and a lot of things to despair about at times.

"We had enough of the ball and did look dangerous at times but it's a case of trying to put consistent patches together for 15 or 20 minutes.

"We do that in patches but not for anywhere near long enough, we don't have enough patience on the ball - or time in possession - which is crucial at this level when you're playing a side as good as Sale."

Hodgson's eighth minute penalty opened the scoring before the half disintegrated into a scrappy affair punctuated by both sides electing to kick for points.

Gordon Ross ended the half with a 50 per cent record, kicking one penalty and missing another either side of the half hour mark while Hodgson added his second penalty before stroking over a drop goal on 27 minutes.

Bryan Redpath provided the highlight of the opening half when his audacious show and go flat-footed the Leeds backline but Iain Balshaw's last ditch tackle prevented Sale from ending the move with a try.

Jason White failed to appear at the start of the second half and was replaced by John Carter, but it was Jason Robinson who brought the crowd to their feet on 50 minutes when his mesmerising cross-field run took him deep into the Leeds half and although the move initially petered out, Edgeley Park was only seconds away from the game's opening try.

Having recycled the ball, Hodgson found Andrew Sheridan who powered towards - and over - the Leeds line for his fifth try of the season.

Hodgson added the extras, and another penalty six minutes later as Sale established a 19-3 lead.

However, Leeds set up a grandstand finish after Phil Christophers danced his way through a number of blue shirts to touch down near the posts. Ross converted with ease and Leeds were on the brink of earning themselves a losing bonus point but Balshaw fumbled Christophers's pass with the try line begging.

"It was a good performance, we're quite pleased with the physicality of the team and quite pleased with the way we played with the ball in hand at times - particularly when we got the try Phil scored," added Davies. "Some of the build-up play beforehand was superb, it's just a shame to put so much effort in, to come all this way and not get anything out of the game."