Sale repel second-half surge from Exeter to make play-offs

Sale booked their place in the Gallagher Premiership play-offs after they were pushed all the way by second-bottom Exeter in an enthralling 30-26 contest at Sandy Park.

There seemed little doubt over the Sharks’ destiny at half-time – when they led 20-5 – but Chiefs got within four points with just over two minutes left.

However, the visitors hung on at the death to set up a semi-final trip to Leicester.

Sale took a very early lead through a penalty from England fly-half George Ford, but it was the hosts who scored the game’s opening try.

Winger Paul Brown-Bampoe looked set to go off with a heavily-strapped leg, but in the next passage of play, a burst through the visiting defence by Sale-bound Jacques Vermeulen and a long pass by Premiership centurion Harvey Skinner created the space for Brown-Bampoe to race in from 40 metres out.

Chiefs’ joy was shortlived, however, as they saw opposite winger Tommy Wyatt limp off with a leg injury and Sale then started to show the form that had lifted them into the play-off places.

After Ford had slotted a second penalty, some slack defence in midfield by the home side saw centre Rekeiti Ma’asi-White sidestep his way to the try line, with Ford adding the extras.

Just past the half-hour mark, former Chief Luke Cowan-Dickie did good work on the ground and Scotland winger Arron Reed cut a great line through the Exeter defence to set up a try for loose-head prop Bevan Rodd. Ford put Sale three scores clear with the conversion.

The hosts’ cause suffered another blow when number eight Ethan Roots was sent to the sin bin just before the break for collapsing a driving maul heading towards the try line, but they managed to survive until the interval without incurring further damage.

Exeter dominated the opening stages of the second half – despite still being a man down – and they were rewarded with a try after 49 minutes by full-back Josh Hodge, who then converted superbly from the touchline to cut the deficit to eight points.

Ford replied with a penalty, but Sale’s nerves then became frayed as some fine handling off a line-out move saw replacement Will Haydon-Wood get over the whitewash, with Hodge again slotting a fine conversion.

Exeter thought they had taken a dramatic lead soon after but replacement hooker Dan Frost was adjudged to have knocked on as he crossed the line.

Instead it was his opposite number Cowan-Dickie who muscled his way over at the other end and Ford’s conversion put Sale 11 points in front with as many minutes remaining.

Reed had a try disallowed for a high tackle by Gus Warr that led to a yellow card and Chiefs capitalised on their one-man advantage with a touchdown from Richard Capstick.

Hodge converted the try to set up a grandstand finish, but despite outscoring Sale four tries to three, it was the visitors who were celebrating come the final whistle.