Sale Sharks left Gloucester with another try bonus point to keep their record of scoring at least four tries in every game this season intact but were on the wrong end of the scoreline against the three-time defending PWR champions.
Sharks were out the blocks the fastest on a cool, dry afternoon at Kingsholm. A big, close-range carry from Erica Jarrell-Searcy got the visitors on the board just three minutes into the game.
Gloucester-Hartpury levelled just five minutes later, Lund running in down the right wing for her first of the day before tries from Matthews and Tuipulotu pushed them ahead on the scoreboard, a position they did not relinquish for the rest of the game.
Between the tries there was a moment to celebrate a huge Sharks milestone. Amy Cokayne left the field of play with a calf problem and was replaced by Scarlett Fielding, making her 50th appearance for the club.
Sale finished the first half well, book ending the first forty minutes with another score. Holly Aitchison with the assist of the season so far as she fizzed a stunning pass across the face of three defenders to find Nikita Prothero on the left wing, who darted over in the corner to make it 21-12 at the break.
Unfortunately for Sale, they couldn’t find the same fast start to the second half as they did the first. Gloucester Hartpury’s Lund added her second score before Dallavalle and Jones both crossed the whitewash.
Sale rallied, knowing two more scores would bring up the bonus point to take home. The first was delivered by Shona Campbell. The ball was moved wide and the Scottish speedster cantered over in the far corner.
The final try was the opposite in style, but just as satisfying. Two phases after a Sale driving maul, Charlotte Fray muscled her way through three defenders to find the line for her first of the season, just before full time, and secure the point for the visitors to take back up North, with the full-time score 40-24 to the hosts.
Sharks now return to Morson Stadium, with a match up with Exeter in two weeks time next (29th November) – the team they beat on the final day of last season. Tickets are available for fans here.
