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Sale Sharks 7 Neath Swansea Ospreys 18

Jenny Dixon
22/ 1/2007

SHARKS ensured that their last stand in this season's Heineken Cup included a demonstration of pride and valour at Edgeley Park on Saturday.

Within ten minutes of kick-off Sharks' Welsh pool rivals Neath Swansea Ospreys had already secured half of their target try-tally, of four, which would have seen them through to the next round.

But Sharks had other ideas.

Despite the set-back, conceding the two early tries by Steve Tandy and Stefan Terblanche, Sale's injury-ravaged squad, bereft of captain Jason Robinson who is suffering from neck and shoulder problems, battled on.

They got close to the line a number of times, including a disallowed touchdown by Ben Foden, before tireless Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe eventually opened Sharks tally in the second-half.

Although played in an attractive open style, the match was an ill-tempered affair, with four players sent to cool off in the sin-bin, including Sharks' Dean Schofield and stand-in captain Sebastien Chabal, and was punctuated by controversial decisions from referee Alain Rowland.

While Sale's European campaign is now over, the team's injury problems continue to build - prop Lionel Faure had to be helped as he hobbled off the pitch on Saturday, with a suspected knee injury.

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