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Match Report
Friday, January 21st 2005Powergen Cup QF
Sale Sharks |
23 |
Bath Rugby |
24 |
Attendance: 6,106
| BATH FLY HALF Chris Malone dealt Sale Sharks a crushing blow when he converted a Matt Stevens try in the fifth minute of injury time to leave the home side reflecting on a third defeat this season by one point in the last minute. With 25 minutes to go, the Sharks held an eight-point lead, but their interest in this season's Powergen Cup ended with the game's final phase. Two penalties in the first eight minutes by Olly Barkley put the visitors six points ahead. Charlie Hodgson, still suffering from the virus which has afflicted the club for over a week, reduced the deficit with a penalty awarded for offside on 10 minutes. Six minutes later, Mark Cueto, who showed international class throughout, burst through and started a period of pressure on the visiting line. The move was ended by lost possession, something which happened too frequently from the Sharks' point of view. On 20 minutes, the Bath front row fell to its knees three times in quick succession. Hodgson pulled the resultant penalty left of the upright. Barkley, a lively performer who proved a constant threat set up an attack on the Sharks' line. With a Bath overlap on the right, and a try inevitable, John Carter produced a saving tackle on Matt Perry which was almost 'Chabalesque'. A handling offence on 32 minutes saw Barkley extend his side's lead before Sharks had a spell of concerted pressure , with Baxendell and Cueto going close. The Sharks' policy of spinning the ball out wide saw Chris Jones, wide on the wing, scoring his fourth try of the season (39 minutes), Hodgson converting. Deep into 'added' first half time, Hodgson showed strong defensive qualities with a tackle on Barkley. A minute later, referee Rowden had words with both Sharks' Frenchmen, Bruno and Chabal, before awarding Bath a penalty which Barkley stroked over to give Bath a 12-10 interval lead. Mike Hercus took Hodgson's place at the interval, his first taste of action since the Plymouth game in the previous Powergen Cup round. Chris Mayor was forced into a saving tackle before Cueto and Titterrell combined (53 minutes) to provide the Sharks' second try by the England hooker. Hercus converted to give Sharks their biggest lead of the game: 20-12. Three minutes later, Jason Robinson, despite still suffering from illness, burst and jinked well over 50 metres to rouse the 6,016 crowd. Sadly, the piece of individual skill did not lead to any scoring. It was Bath Number 8 Isaac Feaunati who crossed on 72 minutes to narrow the gap to three points. Mike Hercus added another penalty and the Sharks' defence was holding firm until that fateful moment, in the fifth minute of 'added' time, when replacement prop Matt Stevens appeared in the unaccustomed position on the right wing to enable Malone to snatch the game. Scoring sequence: (Sharks first) 0-3, 0-6, 3-6, 3-9, 10-9, 10-12 (Half time) 17-12, 20-12,20-17, 23-17, 23-24 Man of the Match: Mark Cueto
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Sale Sharks Starting 15 |
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| 1 | Stuart Turner | Prop | |
| 2 | Sebastien Bruno | Hooker | |
| 3 | Barry Stewart | Prop | |
| 4 | Chris Jones | Lock | |
| 5 | Dean Schofield | Lock | |
| 6 | Jason White | Flanker | |
| 7 | John Carter | Flanker | |
| 8 | Sebastien Chabal | Number 8 | |
| 9 | Richard Wigglesworth | Scrumhalf | |
| 10 | Charlie Hodgson | Flyhalf | |
| 11 | Chris Mayor | Wing | |
| 12 | Robert Todd | Inside Centre | |
| 13 | Jos Baxendell | Outside | |
| 14 | Mark Cueto | Wing | |
| 15 | Jason Robinson | Fullback | |
Replacements |
Replaced (time) | ||
| 16 | Andy Titterrell | Bruno (50) | |
| 17 | Martin Halsall | Not used | |
| 18 | Christian Day | C.Jones (66) | |
| 19 | Magnus Lund | Carter (58) | |
| 20 | Bryan Redpath | Wigglesworth (49) | |
| 21 | Mike Hercus | Hodgson (H.T.) | |
| 22 | Chris Rhys Jones | Robinson (70) | |
| Check out the Sharks Vs Bath Rugby Picture Gallery | |||
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