Newcastle Red Bulls compound Sale Sharks misery with dramatic late win

Alex Hearle scored a hat-trick as Newcastle staged an incredible second-half comeback to secure a 45-42 triumph over Sale at Kingston Park.

Sale took charge with five first-half tries from Tom Roebuck, Seb Kelly, Tom O’Flaherty, Joe Carpenter and Alfie Longstaff, and the hosts crossed twice through Tom Christie and Amanaki Mafi.

Sharks led 35-10 at the break, but a strong second-half showing from Newcastle saw Hearle and Freddie Lockwood go over before Arron Reed extended Sale’s advantage.

The hosts continued to apply pressure, though, and staged a brilliant comeback as Christie and Hearle scored, with the centre then diving over in the final seconds to bag Newcastle’s second Prem win of the campaign, while defeat keeps Sale seventh in the table.

Sale went ahead inside the first two minutes when Roebuck cut in from the left and charged through the defence to ground, with Ford adding the extras.

Fixture

Gallagher Premiership

Newcastle

45 - 42

Full-time

Sale

All Stats and Data

Simon Benitez Cruz went over for the hosts but his effort was ruled out for a forward pass in the build-up, and Sale then found their second try using the left wing again as Kelly, making his first Prem start, bundled over the line and Ford converted.

Following some pressure on the tryline, Newcastle responded when Christie squeezed over, but Brett Connon was unable to convert.

Sale remained in control and extended their advantage further when Gus Warr passed to Roebuck on the left and the centre did well to keep the ball in, quickly throwing into O’Flaherty to touch down, with Ford converting.

The visitors bagged the bonus point when Carpenter burst through a gap and dotted down from close range before Ford added the conversion.

Newcastle pulled one back when Mafi raced around from a scrum to ground but Connon missed the conversion.

Sale quickly replied through Longstaff, who crashed over the line after carrying from a maul, with Ford’s subsequent kick successful.

The hosts struck shortly after the restart when Hearle dived over following a quick move from the lineout and Connon scored his first conversion of the night.

Newcastle enjoyed plenty of possession in the early parts of the second half and were rewarded when Christian Wade chased down a kick into the right corner, where he offloaded in for Lockwood to touch down and Ben Healy converted.

Roebuck had a try chalked off by TMO for a knock-on, but Sale soon extended their lead following a build-up of phases, where a quick switch to the left allowed Reed to cross and Ford slotted the kick.

However, Newcastle kept the pressure on, scoring their fifth try of the evening when Christie dived over in the right corner, with Healy converting.

Hearle ran in for his second try and Healy converted for the hosts to move within four points of Sale with eight minutes to play.

And in the dying seconds Hearle broke down the middle and dived over, with Healy converting to snatch victory for the hosts.