Matchday Live

Sharks see red as Exeter Chiefs win 15-25 at the AJ Bell Stadium in Round 3 of the Gallagher Premiership.

On a sunny day at the AJ Bell, Sharks started equally brightly.

It took just three minutes for Ross Harrison to score from the lineout for Sharks – his second try in 257 appearances.

The Sharks pack was dominant in the first quarter, and it was with the run of play that Rob Du Preez made it 10-0 from the spot.

Sharks spent the next period largely without possession but – credit to some evident defensive homework – never seemed alarmed.

As the Sharks absorbed phase after phase, Exeter were one-dimensional in attack and often found themselves on the backfoot.

On the stroke of half-time, it took one of Sharks players to be down injured for Chiefs to find the overlap they had been lacking, Henry Slade scoring and converting his own try.

As the game restarted, there was a sense of unease as Exeter promptly won a penalty under the posts to level the game – second half jitters once again?

But in the end, it was TMO that sealed Sale’s fate – clear contact to the head of Harvey Skinner made by Rohan Janse van Rensburg marked the end of the centre’s game. Red card.

Exeter did not hesitate to capitalize, Slade scoring his second 2 minutes later and lock Willy Witty showcasing some excellent footballing skills to cross for Exeter’s third.

But the game was far from over – a thundering line break from Cobus Wiese awoke the AJ Bell as the towering lock sat down international superstar Stuart Hogg.

The Sharks were snapped into action, and a tidy Ewan Ashman finish gave fans hope. But it was too little too late – a fiasco of scrummages later and it was curtains.

Another frustrating outing for Sale, ill-discipline once again dictating the result. Exeter will count themselves lucky to have gained their first victory of the season.

Sale Sharks next match is away to Gloucester Rugby on Saturday 9 October.

Man of the Match: Will Witty