 | MATCH SUMMARY Worcester (23) 33
Tries: Havili, Drahm, Le Roux
Cons: Drahm (3)
Pens: Drahm (4) Sale (27) 48
Tries: Courrent, Schofield, Titterrell, Martens, Ripol, Hanley
Cons: Courrent (6)
Pens: Courrent (2) |
A 23-point tally from Valentin Courrent helped Premiership leaders Sale hold off Worcester in a thriller at Sixways. Courrent kicked 18 points to add to a 12th-minute try while Andy Titterrell, Steven Hanley, Dean Schofield, Sililo Martens and Oriol Ripol also crossed.
Shane Drahm inspired Worcester's mini fightback from 23-27 down at the break with a try and 18 booted points.
But despite Nicolas Le Roux and 'Aisea Havili scores, the hosts still fell short and missed out on a bonus point.
The victory - Sale's biggest away victory since May 2000 in the Premiership - meant they increased their lead at the top of the table to seven points.
The win came at cost, however, with former England star Jason Robinson forced to leave the field through injury in the second half.
The full-back was helped off the pitch but was able to watch the rest of the game from the touchline.
Sale assistant coach Kingsley Jones:
"If you had asked me to tell you the score this morning, I would have said it would be more like 3-3.
"Worcester came back well but I thought we were always in control.
"This was a great statement. We said before the game there can be no excuses and it shows we have come a long way.
"I think Jason (Robinson) got someone's knee in the side of his head but he's fine, although he will have a test."
Worcester director of rugby John Brain:
"To take 48 points at home was very disappointing. We certainly didn't deserve to win but we deserved to get a point out of it.
"We expected to beat Sale and thought we were good enough to do that but we shot ourselves in the foot.
"I think it was a missed opportunity for us. All the players think that that is the case.
"Our mindset was right going into the game and we have been taught a harsh lesson in some respects. We have to go on from it."
Worcester: Le Roux; Havili, Rasmussen, Lombard, Tucker; Drahm,
Gomarsall; Windo, C Fortey, Tuamoepeau; Murphy, Gillies;
Horstmann, Harding, Hickey.
Replacements: Whatling for Lombard (75), Brown for Drahm (80), van Niekerk for C Fortey (49), O'Donoghue for Gillies (67), Vaili for Harding (80).
Not Used: L Fortey, Powell.
Sale: Robinson; Ripol, Taylor, Todd, Hanley; Courrent, Martens;
Faure, Titterrell, Turner; Lobbe, Schofield; C Jones, Carter, Chabal.
Replacements: Mayor for Robinson (62), Wakley for Taylor (80), Wigglesworth for Martens (75), Coutts for Faure (48), Day for Lobbe (75), Bonner-Evans for Carter (52).
Not Used: Stewart.
Att: 9,726
Referee: T Spreadbury (England).
MMIX
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