Many Sale Sharks supporters reported fingernail loss as their team put them through the emotional wringer on Friday night. With the lead in a state of fluctuation, David Seymour's side edged it against Saracens 25-23. How vital that victory may prove to be, nobody will know until the first weekend of February after the team's two remaining games in the competition against Scarlets in Salford and away at Wasps have been played.
In Pool 2 (remember, the Sharks don't play these teams) Worcester Warriors, Cardiff Blues and Sale Sharks all have 5 points, with Leicester Tigers on four.
Spectators with electronic information devices at the Stadium on Friday were able to impart the information that Johnny Leota had come off the bench to score the decisive try in Samoa's 26-19 win against Wales. "Go, Johnny, go!"
Harlequins beat Bath 21-12 at The Twickenham Stoop on the same evening, all penalties.
Saturday's lunchtime action saw a Championship XV give the Maori a fair game at Doncaster. In the red shirts were former Sharks Rhys Crane, Nic Rouse and Mark Atkinson. It ended 21-52 but was hugely entertaining.
Saturday's LV= games saw Gloucester beat the Welsh 46-28 (Sharks are the next visitors to Kingsholm) and Scarlets beat Cardiff Blues 22-16. Sharks face both of them in January. Exeter Chiefs overcame the Ospreys 23-12 at Sandy Park.
On Sunday, George Ford kicked 17 points in the Tigers' 22-15 win against the Irish. Two tries at Welford Road, and you still lose - that's surely not the luck of the Irish? In High Wycombe, the Wasps and Worcester Warriors shared six tries but the home side won 28-19. Tommy Bell's kicking was the difference. He helped his former club there.
At Rodney Parade, the splendidly named Tonderai Chavhanga scored a hat trick for the Dragons, who led for a long while but lost 20-30 to Northampton Saints, the next visitors to Salford City Stadium.
And we haven't mentioned England's 'Regal Purple' kit or the superb entertainment at Murrayfield. Yes - the pipers and the artillery were in fine form but South Africa beat Richie Gray & Co 21-10.
Sale Sharks v. Northampton Saints is next up at the Salford City Stadium. Got your tickets? Just click here.
