Sale (20) 30
Tries: Thomas, Gaskell, Peel
Conversions: MacLeod 3 Penalties MacLeod 2, Miller
London Irish (23) 29
Tries: Paice, Joseph
Conversions: Homer 5 Penalties Homer 2

76-times capped Dwayne Peel turns it on for Sale in the win over Irish

Dazzling Dwayne Peel's second-half try helped Sale come from behind at the break to beat London Irish 30-29 in a thriller at Edgeley Park.

Peel was overlooked for Wales' World Cup squad but was the outstanding performer as Sale bounced back from their opening-day defeat at Worcester.

Forwards Henry Thomas and James Gaskell also crossed for Sale before the break.

Irish's two tries came from hooker David Paice and centre Jonathon Joseph, while Tom Homer kicked 19 points.

Irish head coach Toby Booth could not fault the desire of his young side after a second successive defeat, following last week's equally narrow 29-24 defeat in the season opener against Harlequins.

But the Exiles at least went home with a losing bonus point thanks to the expert kicking of full-back Homer, who kicked seven goals from as many attempts.

Sale coach Steve Diamond presided over a major overhaul during the summer and is still missing a host of players due to World Cup duty, but was very happy with the one player who did not make it down under, Wales discard Peel.

Even visiting coach Booth admitted that 30-year-old Peel proved the difference between the sides, and joined Diamond in questioning Wales' decision to omit him from the squad which flew to New Zealand.

Sale coach Steve Diamond:

"Wales must have good scrum-halves or poor selectors - probably a combination of the two .

"But Peely has got over being left out and we're happy to have him here. He was outstanding. He led by example.

"It's always good to win at home and we've achieved that but we're not the finished article just yet.

"We're not Real Madrid at this moment in time, we're more Accrington Stanley."

London Irish coach Toby Booth:

"It's frustrating but unfortunately the scoreboard doesn't lie and we've come second after a very battling performance, which you have to do at Sale.

"Everyone knows how young we are as a team and we have to make sure we learn our lessons quickly.

"Dwayne Peel was excellent. There's no substitute for experience. He's a world-class player who I believe should be sitting many miles away."

Sale: Miller; Brady, Higgins, Addison, Tuculet; MacLeod, Peel; Imiolek, Ward, Thomas; McKenzie, Myall; Gaskell, Seymour (capt), Easter.

Replacements: Briggs, Croall, Cobilas, Holmes, Taylor, Mathie, Davies, Amesbury.

London Irish: Homer; Ojo, Joseph, Shingler, Yarde; Bowden, Allinson; Dermody (capt), Paice, Halavatau; Kennedy, Garvey; Roche, Gray, Hala'ufia.

Attendance: 6,547.

Replacements: Buckland, Lahiff, George, Alexander, Siggery, Thompstone, G Armitage, Hodgson.

Referee: S Davey (RFU).

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