Browse Sections

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

Sale Sharks 18 Gloucester 15

Jenny Dixon
12/ 4/2006

JASON Robinson's 500th game as a professional rugby player was almost spoiled by a young Gloucester player making his first Premiership start on Saturday.

Sale Sharks' captain Robinson is more accustomed to using his flighty feet to cut across the turf, but he was forced to put his twinkle toes to another use against Gloucester - scoring a match-winning drop goal at Edgeley Park.

Sharks' 18-15 victory sealed their spot in the Guinness Premiership semi-finals but the league leaders were forced to fight back from a 15-3 deficit to secure the win.

Gloucester young gun Ryan Lamb, who started at fly-half in place of his more experienced club colleague Ludovic Mercier, didn't put a foot wrong, scoring four penalties in the first-half to give the visitors a 12-3 lead at the interval.

The scoreline was deceptive, however, as Sharks forwards dominated, even without the services of influential ball-carriers Andrew Sheridan and Sebastien Chabal, whose anticipated return was delayed by a stomach bug.

Trailing by nine points, Charlie Hodgson managed to steer Sharks back into contention with three second half penalties before Richard Wigglesworth took over kicking duties to score the equalising penalty.

Robinson did the rest while a fluffed penalty by sub Mercier, with the final kick of the game, ensured all four points went to battling Sale.

Despite the victory, Sharks' coaches have spoken out in support of their weary players, following criticism from press and fans about Sale's recent lack of tries. Head coach, Kingsley Jones said: "We obviously want to score tries, we've got great backs and want to get the ball to them and play rugby that supporters will enjoy watching.

"But it's unrealistic to expect that every week. I'd rather be top of the Premiership by winning 5-0 than lose a match. There has to be a balance."

Sale Sharks: J Robinson (capt), M Cueto (D Larrechea 79), M Taylor, E Seveali'i, S Hanley, C Hodgson, R Wigglesworth, B Coutts (Turner 40), A Titterrell (S Bruno 50), B Stewart, C Jones, D Schofield (IF Lobbe 40), J White, M Lund, N Bonner-Evans (C Day 65).