Stripped-back Sale suffer first home loss in a year by 32-23 to league-leaders Bath.
Sale Sharks, missing eight internationals before the Six Nations, lost at the Salford Community Stadium for the first time since January 21 2024, and the first time since the 5th of the same month. Despite personnel shortages, the game was there for the taking for Sale, who flew into a 13-0 lead courtesy of tries from Arron Reed and Rob du Preez.
A brace from Rauridh McConnochie helped Bath head into the break trailing by just four, before an error-strewn second-half frustrated Alex Sanderson’s side. McConnochie’s second came on the stroke of half time and the momentum saw them breach the Sharks defence through Max Ojomoh to take the lead.
With ten minutes to salvage the result, Sharks forced attacks on the Bath five metre, surrendering a penalty that Finn Russell booted into a vacant backfield, pounced upon by Tom Carr-Smith in a decisive momentum swing.
Much had been said pre-game about the “Finn Russell factor” and the Scot’s availability presenting Bath with an advantage, but Sale were quick to demonstrate why they have dominated at home, repelling an early 20-phase attack.
With that defensive backing, Sale transitioned to attack and rocked Bath with a flurry of points. Reed was the first to cross, stepping past Joe Cokanasiga to finish off a tidy multi-phase attack after du Preez’s Jean-Luc and Rob combined to spread the ball wide.
A Rob du Preez penalty quickly followed before the fly half crossed himself, picking and going down a vacant blindside after Tom O’Flaherty claimed a beautifully waited Joe Carpenter grubber to barge within range.
That 13-point lead was, however squandered, with Bath’s persistence in playing through the phases eventually breaking down the Sharks defence. Rauridh McConnochie crossed twice, the first a relatively simple walk in from close range before a second on the stroke of half time, the former England winger benefitting off a lovely Russell pass delay.
McConnochie’s brace provided Bath with the momentum to attack in the second half, with pressure compounded by Sale mistakes. A missed kick to touch on the half way became a scrum penalty, which became an attacking Bath lineout and 20 phases later Max Ojomoh crossed to give Bath the lead.
That three-point lead doubled when Russell knocked over a penalty from 40 out, the visitors profiting of a kick straight into touch under minimal pressure.
The most frustrating mistake was the most decisive, with Carr-Smith’s length of the field effort taking Bath 13 points clear. A try for the outstanding Joe Carpenter with 90 seconds to go gave Sale some fleeting hope, but the hosts never looked like going the length, a penalty confirming Bath’s win and denying Sale the bonus point.
