Sale (21) 31
Tries: Fernandez Lobbe 2, Cueto, Hodgson Con: Hodgson 4 Pens: Hodgson Wasps (3) 3
Pens: Walder
 Cueto scored Sale's second try as they returned to winning ways |
Sale bounced back from consecutive defeats and halted Wasps' mini-revival as a first-half blitz helped them move up to second in the Premiership. Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Mark Cueto and Charlie Hodgson all went over, with Hodgson landing all three conversions. Wasps managed a Dave Walder penalty as they trailed 21-3 at the break. Hodgson added a penalty for Sale soon after the restart and Fernandez Lobbe's late second try gave them a bonus point and moved the hosts above Bath on wins. Cueto threatened after eight minutes, fielding the ball on his own 22 before chipping the Wasps defensive line and regathering the ball, only to miss the pass outside to David Doherty. But it was not long before Sale made their pressure tell as Dean Schofield, on the loop, drew defenders before feeding Neil Briggs, who found Fernandez Lobbe to touch down. They soon had a second score as Cueto cleared to the 10m line and, with the ball bobbling towards touch, Wasps academy player Chris Bishay jumped over it - not realising Doherty was bearing down on him.  | 606: DEBATE |
Doherty collected and passed inside to Cueto and the former England player ran round under the sticks. Walder then notched Wasps' only points of the afternoon but the visitors were soon on the back foot again. Richard Wigglesworth's pass bounced off Joe Worsley and the quick-thinking Hodgson collected the ball and darted in under the posts, with the fly-half landing all three conversions for the hosts. Hodgson's penalty extended Sale's lead 10 minutes into the second half as they continued to dominate and they finally secured a bonus point in the closing stages. Wasps were penalised for collapsing a scrum as they desperately defended their line and Fernandez Lobbe took the quick tap penalty and dived over to notch his second score of the day.
Sale director of rugby Phillippe Saint-Andre:
"I'm pleased after the disappointment of the robbery of last week. "We tried to play rugby in front of a good crowd and scored four tries. I don't think a lot of teams in the Premiership can do this with the flair that we can. "We've got good focus and I've seen my team get better every week for five weeks." Wasps head coach Shaun Edwards:
"It was quite evident we were outplayed in every department by the form team in the Premiership. "We came up against the best team in England at the moment with all their experienced players out, but I didn't expect us to capitulate like we did. "We expected to get a bonus point, but we didn't get anywhere near it. "We've got a full week's training, plenty of time to rest and lick our wounds. We'll be ready for the next game."
Sale: Cueto; Bell, Tuilagi, McAlister, Doherty; Hodgson, Wigglesworth; Faure, M. Jones, Roberts, Chabal, Schofield, White, Briggs, Fernandez Lobbe. Replacements: Ripol for McAlister (41), McLeod for Doherty (66), Peel for Wigglesworth (57), Sheridan for Faure (49), Fearns for M. Jones (54), Turner for Roberts (75), C. Jones for Schofield (71). Wasps: Mitchell; Bishay, Lewsey, Flutey, Voyce; Walder, Simpson; French, Ward, Payne, Shaw, Birkett, Worsley, Betsen, Ellis, Lawler. Replacements: Lawler for Mitchell (41), Staunton for Bishay (41), Webber for Lewsey (73), Reddan for Simpson (41), Skivington for Birkett (63), Leo for Ellis (41), Beech for Lawler (79). Att: 10,841 Ref: Rob Debney (Leicestershire).
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