Aviva Premiership: Sale 21-17 Harlequins

Sale (6) 21
Tries: Cueto, Tonetti Cons: Macleod Pens: Macleod 3
Harlequins (17) 17
Tries: Lowe, Turner-Hall Cons: Evans 2 Pens: Evans

Cueto's second-half try sparked Sale's comeback from an 11-point defecit

A debut try from Kyle Tonetti helped Sale mount an impressive second-half comeback against Harlequins.

George Lowe put Quins ahead inside five minutes before Nick Evans converted.

Nick Macleod's two penalties put Sale within a point but a penalty and converted Jordan Turner-Hall try gave Quins an 11-point half-time lead.

Tomas Vallejos Cinalli's sin-binning with 10 minutes left led to Mark Cueto's try, followed by Tonetti's score and five points from Macleod.

Harlequins pursuit of a first win got off to a dream start when Turner-Hall's fine offload found Lowe for the opening score and Evans converted from the touchline.

Both defences started unsteadily and, as Quins persistently offended at the breakdown, Macleod pulled back six points with two quick penalties.

Evans established a four-point lead for the visitors 12 minutes before the break with a penalty of his own from just outside the 22.

Sale looked to be heading for the dressing room still in touch but when Cueto spilled a high ball just before the break, it fell to the advancing Quins who sent Mike Brown into space.

The ball eventually broke to the feet of Turner-Hall who hacked on for a one-handed touchdown. Evans added the conversion.

The hosts came flying out of the blocks at the start of the second half and were only denied a try by some desperate defending in the corner.

For 10 minutes Sale piled on the pressure before ex-Leicester centre Ollie Smith was sin-binned for handling on the floor.

Macleod missed the resultant penalty and Quins went on the attack with Evans combining superbly with Nick Easter to almost put the former All Black stand-off in for a try.

The Londoners earned a penalty that could have put the game to bed but the normally reliable Evans scuffed the ball wide.

The Sharks rallied with 10 minutes left but play was called back after they had crossed the line for Harlequins second row Vallejos Cinalli to be yellow carded for offside.

Cueto went over for Sale's first try but Macleod's conversion attempt struck the upright.

With the man advantage the hosts showed enterprise in attack and were held up just short of the line, but their endeavour was rewarded when Tonetti grounded Macleod's kick through.

Macleod added the extras to put Sale in front for the first time and shortly after he seized the opportunity to extend their lead to four points with a penalty.

Sale head coach Mike Brewer:
"Our game management was poor and defensively we were poor. In all honesty I don't know how Harlequins lost that.

"We created opportunities yet too often tried playing miracle balls - but we certainly finished a lot stronger and that played a big part in it.

"I said to the guys 'that was a bottom-six performance from both teams and we need to improve on it'."

Harlequins director of rugby Conor O'Shea:
"We were 17-6 up at half-time but we gave away goodness knows how many penalties and played 20 minutes with 14 men.

"It doesn't matter how fit you are, you are going to be run ragged and I am furious. I've got no complaints about the refereeing.

"Credit to Sale and how they played but I'm absolutely furious and we'll take a long, long hard look at ourselves next week."

Sale Sharks: Williams; Cohen, Bell, Macleod, Cueto; James, Leck; Lewis-Roberts, Jones, Forster, Lewaravu, Gaskell, Fearns, Seymour, Koyamaibole.

Replacements: Replacements: Brady for Bell (56), Tonetti for M. James (56), Cliff for Leck (40), Briggs for M. Jones (40), Sheridan for Forster (40), Rouse for Lewaravu (73), Ormsby for Koyamaibole (51).

Harlequins: Brown; Williams, Smith, Turner-Hall, Lowe; Evans, Dickson; Jones, Cairns, Johnston, Easter, Cinalli, Robshaw, Skinner, Guest.

Replacements: Camacho for Williams (25), Marler for Jones (43), Brooker for Cairns (43), Lambert for Johnston (43), Browne for Guest (57).

Sin Bin: Smith (47), Vallejos Cinalli (62).

Att: 6,026

Ref: Dave Pearson (RFU).