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Gloucester end nine-game Premiership losing run with victory over Sale
Gloucester broke their miserable run of nine consecutive Premiership defeats with a morale-boosting win over Sale at Kingsholm.
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The impressive hosts took full advantage of an error-ridden performance from their injury-ravaged opponents, who missed the chance to climb five places in the league table.
Sale, who lost South African forwards Cobus Wiese and Dan du Preez in the first half hour, were their own worst enemies – picking up two yellow cards as they fell to their fifth defeat in succession in all competitions.
Gloucester’s tries came from Ollie Thorley, George McGuigan, Ruan Ackermann and Charlie Atkinson, with Santiago Carreras adding three conversions and two penalties.
Gus Warr and Tommy Taylor scored Sale’s tries with Rob du Preez kicking two penalties and two conversions.
Gloucester conceded a couple of early penalties and Sale looked to have capitalised when Wiese crossed the line only for the giant lock to find himself held up by Thorley.
The hosts soon made them pay for their profligacy when the industrious Thorley seized on a loose ball to run 50 metres and score.
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After 10 minutes, Sale suffered a further blow when Wiese left the field clutching his arm to be replaced by Ben Bamber but they immediately overcame this setback when Warr dived into a maul to level the scores.
However, a disastrous catalogue of errors from Sale gifted the lead back to the home side.
A dithering Arron Reed ran from behind his goal line, his pass to Telusa Veainu was then dropped before Sam Dugdale came from an offside position to try and clear up the damage.
Match Summary 
2
Penalty Goals
2
4
Tries
2
3
Conversions
2
0
Drop Goals
0
74
Carries
129
5
Line Breaks
5
14
Turnovers Lost
15
2
Turnovers Won
2
He succeeded in doing so but was yellow-carded for his troubles and from the resulting line-out McGuigan finished off a driving maul.
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Sale’s woes soon continued by conceding a third try from a maul 25 metres out, Ackermann bursting between the two opposition props on a 25-metre run to the line.
Dugdale returned from the sin-bin just in time to see his number eight Dan du Preez stretchered off with a knee injury but a penalty from Rob du Preez kept his side in contention.
Gloucester responded in style with their bonus-point try. An initial break from Seb Atkinson was carried on by Chris Harris, Thorley and Carreras before Atkinson touched down. Carreras converted and the hosts had a 26-10 interval lead.
After a frenetic first half containing five tries, it was no surprise that the pace slowed after the interval which resulted in a scoreless 16 minutes before Rob du Preez kicked his second penalty.
Sale had hopes of a revival but they were blunted when Joe Carpenter was yellow-carded for taking Carreras out in the air, with the full-back kicking the resulting penalty.
However Gloucester lost skipper Lewis Ludlow to the sin-bin for a deliberate offside, with Sale benefitting from his absence to score a try through Taylor.
Ludlow was able to return with no further damage to the scoreboard and ensure that Sale took nothing from the game, with Carreras kicking a last-minute penalty.
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
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