McGuigan hat-trick sinks Perpignan
CHALLENGE CUP REPORT: Byron McGuigan scored a hat-trick as Sale Sharks came through a hot-tempered European Challenge Cup opener at Perpignan with a 41-24 triumph.
A manic opening 20 minutes saw three tries and a red card for Perpignan’s Manu Leiataua that had the home fans up in arms, before McGuigan got Sale over the line after the break.
The Scotland star had opened the scoring seven minutes in, before Pierre Lucas brought the hosts level and Leiataua was then dismissed for leading with the arm on Rob Webber.
Amid a hostile atmosphere, Webber immediately pressed home the advantage but the Sharks scored only once more before the break, through Rohan Janse van Rensburg, as a stream of penalties kept Perpignan within touch.
But after a tight start to the second half with the teams level at 19-19, Luke James went over and the floodgates opened for McGuigan to score twice more and seal his hat-trick, having initially been denied a third try moments earlier.
There was time for Genesis Mamea to cross for Perpignan in the final seconds, but it offered little consolation to incensed home fans.
The scorers:
For Perpignan:
Tries: Lucas, Mamea
Con: Bousquet
Pens: Bousquet 4
For Sale Sharks:
Tries: McGuigan 3, Webber, Van Rensburg, L James
Cons: De Klerk 3, Cliff
Pen: De Klerk
Red card: Manu Leiataua (Perpignan, 19 – foul play)
Teams:
Perpignan: 15 Julien Farnoux, 14 Jonathan Bousquet, 13 Pierre Lucas, 12 Paul Marty, 11 Eroni Sau, 10 Enzo Selponi, 9 Sadek Degmache, 8 Genesis Mamea, 7 Alan Brazo (captain), 6 Pierre Reynaud, 5 Yoann Vivalda, 4 Johan Van Heerden, 3 Sylvain Charlet, 2 Manu Leiataua, 1 Yassin Boutemmani.
Replacements: 16 Cyril Deligny, 17 Kevin Tougne, 18 Gert Muller, 19 Alban Roussel, 20 Edoardo Iachizzi, 21 David Mele, 22 Romuald Seguy, 23 Afusipa Taumoepeau.
Sale Sharks: 15 Sam James, 14 Byron McGuigan, 13 Luke James, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Paolo Odogwu, 10 Kieran Wilkinson, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Josh Strauss, 7 Ben Curry, 6 Jono Ross (captain), 5 James Phillips, 4 Josh Beaumont, 3 WillGriff John, 2 Rob Webber, 1 Ross Harrison.
Replacements: 16 Curtis Langdon, 17 Tom Bristow, 18 Joe Jones, 19 George Nott, 20 Tom Curry, 21 Will Cliff, 22 Connor Doherty, 23 Arron Reed.
Referee: Joy Neville (Ireland)
Assistant referees: George Clancy (Ireland), Mark Patton (Ireland)
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