Sale Sharks pick up their first away win of the season with a dominant display, beating DMP Sharks 47-0 at Durham University.
On what was a bitterly cold afternoon in the North East, Sale finally pulled together a complete 70 minute performance to come away with the full 5 points away from home and the first win in 2021.
The opening exchanges were as could be expected in wet and windy conditions with nerves a plenty and a number of errors as both sides looked to force the ball. It was Sale who strook first though as after winning the territory battle and some strong carries by the forwards, Katie Houghton deservedly crossed over which was converted by Katy Daley-Mclean on the 16 minute mark. It wasn’t long before Sale were crossing the try line again, this time after some smart play by Neumann and Delany. The ball was worked to Laura Perrin in the midfield who handed off the DMP six to go under the posts and provide Daley-Mclean with another easy conversion, 14-0 to Sale with 10 minutes left in the first half.
The only negative part for Sale in the first half was the loss of their young star Daisy Hibbert-Jones who looked in a lot of distress after picking up a knee injury within the first five minutes.
DMP Sharks looked to get back in the game and started to test the Sale defence. Fortunately for Sale, Georgie Perris-Redding was in full combat mode and put in 3 consecutive tackles to put an end to DMP’s hopes of crossing in the first half. Just before Half Time, Sale managed to cross again, this time through captain Beth Stafford who crossed over from close quarters, again Daley-Mclean converted giving Sale a 21-0 lead at the break.
After the break, Sale came flying out of the blocks again and after a Jess Elbeck turnover, Sale moved the ball wide quickly to Lauren Delany who got within 5 metres of the DMP line. Sale kept the ball in tight and after a number of pick and go’s, Aisha Abu-Marzouq crossed to secure the Bonus Point. This gave Lamon the opportunity to ring the changes and the bench continued to help up the tempo with both Nicola Howat and Scarlett Fielding having impressive cameo performances.
On the 48-minute mark Sale crossed again and this time it was Perris-Redding with the try who was arguably Sale’s player of the match having impressed with both ball in hand and ferocious in defence. The conversion was missed from out wide to give Sale a 33-0 lead with 20 minutes to play.
DMP never backed down and continued to throw everything they could at Sale but the defensive wall stood firm. Jodie Ounsley came on for her debut as did Holly Bawden who added to Sale’s attacking threat and after a couple of breaks from the pair it was Jess Roberts who crossed next with a signature scrum half show and go which Daley-Mclean converted again. It wasn’t long before Bawden was back in the action, this time picking the ball up on the DMP 10M line and out gassed the covering defence to dot down for her first Sale Sharks try which was converted to give Sale a 47-0 lead with 10 minutes to go.
The final 10 minutes was played at a frantic pace and both sides continued to move the ball well, neither side managed to cross over again and the final whistle was blown resulting in Sale’s first away win ever.
A much-improved performance from Sale in what was a must win game and Lamon will now be looking to cause an upset against Harlequins next weekend.
DMP Sharks:
- Shans, 14. Blount, 13. Cooksey, 12. Blacklock, 11.Thorpe, 10. Dadds , 9. Lazel; 1. Simpson, 2.Bainbridge, 3. Herrick, 4. Hazel, 5.Wiesheu , 6.Gordon, 7. Picut, 8. Churm.
Sale Sharks Women:
- Alex Wallace, 14. Lauren Delaney, 13. Alicia Carlton, 12. Laura Perrin, 11. Lisa Neuman, 10. Katy Daley-McLean, 9. Jess Roberts; 1. Aisha Abu Marzouq, 2. Molly Kelly, 3. Kate Houghton, 4. Teleri Wyn Davies, 5. Daisy Hibbert Jones, 6. Georgie Perris-Redding, 7. Lucy Winter, 8. Beth Stafford.
Replacements: 16. Scarlett Fielding, 17. Hannah Kurtz, 18. Brea Leung, 19. Vicky Irwin, 20. Jess Elbeck 21. Nicola Howat, 22. Holly Bawden, 23. Jodie Ounsley
