Former Stormer helps Gloucester to comeback win Sale Sharks
REPORT: Gloucester took a sizeable step towards European Champions Cup qualification for next season after beating PREM opponents Sale 21-15 at Kingsholm.
A top eight league finish will secure that target, with Gloucester and Harlequins effectively battling it out for the final spot.
And following victory over play-off contenders Exeter last time out, George Skivington’s team backed up that success by wiping out a 12-0 deficit through tries from former Stormers wing Ben Loader and flyhalf Charlie Atkinson, with fullback George Barton kicking two conversions.
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But it took Atkinson’s second score three minutes from time to finally subdue Sale, before Barton maintained his 100 per cent success rate with the boot.
Touchdowns by hooker Alfie Longstaff and wing Tom O’Flaherty, plus one George Ford conversion, had put Sale in charge until Gloucester stirred and then proceeded to dominate in terms of possession and territory, although Ford’s 74th-minute drop goal ensured a frantic finish.
England head coach Steve Borthwick looked on as Sale surged into an eighth-minute lead after a flowing move that ended with wing Tom Roebuck providing a superbly timed scoring pass to Longstaff, who finished impressively.
Gloucester took a while to establish any pattern or fluency, and their cause was not helped by lock Mattias Alemanno knocking on over Sale’s line following impressive approach work by wing Will Joseph.
They remained within striking range, but poor composure let Sale off the hook before another unforced error cost them dear in the 24th minute.
Gloucester looked to attack from halfway, yet possession was spilled in a tackle and former Exeter speedster O’Flaherty took his opportunity and sprinted over unopposed before Ford converted for a 12-point lead.
O’Flaherty almost scored again midway through the second quarter after he again burst into space, yet Gloucester had just enough defensive numbers to stop him short of the line and deny Sale a third try.
Gloucester needed something before half-time, and it duly arrived courtesy of a powerful finish from Loader as Sale’s defence was finally breached, with Barton converting to make it 12-7 at the interval.
The home side suffered an injury blow just three minutes after the restart when their captain and Wales international scrumhalf Tomos Williams was forced off, but they responded impressively to that setback.
Gloucester pinned Sale inside their own 22 for a number of attacking phases, and that pressure eventually told when the impressive Atkinson weaved his way over and Barton’s conversion left Sale in arrears for the first time.
The Sharks continued to find themselves in rearguard mode, and Gloucester could only rue another missed chance on the hour-mark as lock Arthur Clark’s breakaway score was disallowed following a forward pass.
Gloucester had precious little breathing space in terms of the scoreboard, and Ford then dropped a long-range goal, restoring chances of an away victory.
But Sale could not close the deal, and Atkinson’s second try gave Gloucester the win they deserved, even if for the most part it was much harder work than they would have liked.
The scorers:
For Gloucester:
Tries: Loader, C Atkinson 2
Cons: Barton 3
For Sale Shark:
Tries: Longstaff, O’Flaherty
Con: Ford
Drop-goal: Ford
Gloucester: 15 George Barton, 14 Will Joseph, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Ben Loader, 10 Charlie Atkinson, 9 Tomos Williams (c), 8 Will Trenholm, 7 James Venter, 6 Freddie Thomas, 5 Matías Alemanno, 4 Arthur Clark, 3 Afo Fasogbon, 2 Seb Blake, 1 Val Rapava Ruskin
Replacements: 16 Jack Innard, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Ciaran Knight, 19 Danny Eite, 20 Deian Gwynne, 21 Jack Clement, 22 Caolan Englefield, 23 Josiah Edwards-Giraud
Sale Sharks: 15 Joe Carpenter, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Marius Louw, 12 Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11 Tom O’Flaherty, 10 George Ford, 9 Gus Warr, 8 Sam Dugdale, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Ernst van Rhyn (c), 5 Ben Bamber, 4 Hyron Andrews, 3 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 2 Alfie Longstaff, 1 Ralph McEachran
Replacements: 16 Wills Austin, 17 Tumy Onasanya, 18 James Harper, 19 Tristan Woodman, 20 Seb Kelly, 21 Dom Hanson, 22 Luke James, 23 Arron Reed
Referee: Sara Cox
Assistant Referees: Ian Tempest, Veryan Boscawen
TMO: Dean Richards
