Browse Sections

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

Sale Sharks 18 Newcastle Falcons 26

Jenny Dixon
20/11/2006

PHILIPPE Saint-Andre has apologised to Sharks supporters for the 'worst home performance' during his tenure at Edgeley Park.

Sharks suffered their first defeat at the Stockport ground since March on Friday night, when they crashed to a 26-18 loss against Newcastle Falcons, a team that were languishing close to the bottom of the league table.

Even a losing bonus point was beyond the home side's reach as former Sale player James Hoyle and Mike McCarthy each scored a try for Falcons, while Sharks were without a touchdown for a third consecutive game.

Saint-Andre, whose side has been decimated by injury and international duty, said: "It was the worst home performance I've seen since I've been here.

"I want to apologise to supporters - we couldn't catch the ball, we couldn't pass more than twice and we always dropped the ball. It was a terrible performance."

Newcastle led for the majority of the match, relinquishing their stranglehold on the game for just 10 minutes. Visiting captain Matt Burke gave Falcons a three-point advantage after just one minute with a penalty.

Burke and Sharks' deputy flyhalf Daniel Larrechea were involved in a kicking duel, with the home side leading 9-6 after 17 minutes.

The turning point was number eight Mike McCarthy's try - Newcastle breaching Sale's slack defence thanks to breaks by lock Andy Perry and debutant Kiwi prop Joe McDonnell.

Sharks never recovered from the blow and twice during the game failed to capitalise on a one-man advantage, two Newcastle players Perry and Ben Woods were sent separately to the sin-bin, and find a way through the visitors' determined defence.

Trailing 16-12 at the interval Sharks continued to be hampered by mistakes, but managed to reduce the gap to one-point with a Larrechea penalty.

However, when winger Oriol Ripol dropped his collection of Burke's crossfield kick he gifted Hoyle a simple try - a costly mistake.

A string of replacements followed and, despite fresh legs and a late attacking burst by Sharks, the home side were unable to cross the whitewash.

A miserable day was compounded by a knee injury to Sean Cox who started at lock and, at the death, prop Stuart Turner received a red card for striking his opponent with his knee.