Sale Sharks got their Champions Cup campaign back on track with a bonus point win against ASM Clermont Auvergne in one of European rugby’s most hostile stadiums.
Tries from Tom O’Flaherty, Marius Louw, Arron Reed, Champions Cup debutant Joe Bedlow and Alex Wills secured a 35-14 win at the Stade Marcel-Michelin, and consigned Clermont to their biggest ever home defeat in the competition.
It means Alex Sanderson’s men sit on six points in pool one, level with Saracens and Toulouse, and four points off leaders Glasgow, with two pool-stage matches to go.
The first of those is coming up on Saturday 10th January when the Hollywood Bets Sharks come to Manchester. Tickets are available here.
In front of a vocal travelling support, Sharks started the game on the front foot and took the lead inside two minutes when Tom O’Flaherty went over on the right wing after a break from Rob du Preez.
Yerim Fall replied for the hosts, but Sale moved further clear when a Raffi Quirke break set up Louw to dive over. Arron Reed was on the end of a slick backs move soon after to send Sharks into half-time with a 7-20 lead.
Scotland winger Reed was yellow-carded early in the second half for making head-to-head contact with Sebastien Bezy when attempting a clearout at a ruck – an incident which meant Jacques Vermeulen’s try was disallowed.
Lucas Zamora crossed for Clermont while Sale were down to 14 men after Rob Simmonds intercepted a Quirke pass. That reduced the deficit to six points, but they were to prove the last points scored by the home side.
The visitors extended their lead further when Rob du Preez took advantage of a loose Clermont pass to hack through for centre Joe Bedlow to touch down on his Champions Cup debut, before Alex Wills’ fine finish rounded off the scoring after taking a pass from Louw.
