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Match Report | Sale Sharks 22-27 Bath Rugby

Sale Sharks 22 v Bath Rugby 27

Bath Rugby secured a hard-earned 22-27 victory on the road in Round 9 of the Gallagher Premiership when they faced Sale Sharks at the AJ Bell stadium. 

The 80-minutes saw a high-intensity game built on relentless defence and clinical finishing with Bath Rugby crossing the whitewash three times in a devastating first-half.

The first score came in the opening minutes when a Ben Spencer break got Bath on the front foot. The ball was shifted wide to Tom de Glanville who finished superbly in the corner for his second try in as many weeks. Rhys Priestland converted with ease putting Bath into an early lead. [0-7]

The scoreboard was nudged in minutes 19 and 21 when both kickers trade penalties for infringements at the ruck. [3-10]

However, it wasn’t long before Sharks levelled the scores. The hosts piled on the pressure from the restart and got their reward when Jono Ross crossed the try line. Robert Du Preez added the extras making it 10-a-piece. [10-10]

Bath returned the favour with 31 minutes on the clock. A blistering break from starting debutant, Will Muir saw the ball spun out wide to Semesa Rokoduguni. Tom Dunn was ready to receive and the hooker powered over in his familiarly bullish way to secure Bath's second try. Priestland added the conversion putting Bath back in the lead. [10-17]

Just as the clock ticked past 40, Zach Mercer collected a loose kick and accelerated away from the midfield. The no.8 ran a superb line and just as he looked like he was going to score he was pulled down by the Sale defence. However, Josh Bayliss was lying in wait and the back row charged over the line collecting the spoils. Priestland added to his 100% clean record converting the score to end the half. [10-24]

Sharks were quick out of the blocks for the second-half. At 43 minutes Robert du Preez made a break from the half-way and a few powerful drives from their forwards produced a penalty in front of the posts. Sharks' quick-tap put Dan du Preez over but Robert du Preez missed the conversion. [15-24]

Ten minutes later Bath won a penalty and Priestland added to his side’s tally. [15-27]

There was cause to celebrate on the 70-minute mark when former NFL star Alex Gray came on to the field for his first appearance.

Five minutes later the hosts looked like they had scored but the TMO ruled it out due to a forward pass. Shark didn’t give up however and at 80 minutes plus, they secured a losing bonus point.  

The final scores closed at 22-27 in minus seven conditions, with final 40 seeing a strong, resolute and disciplined defence from the Blue, Black and White to bring home the win.


REACTION 


GALLERY


Line Ups

Bath Rugby

15. Tom de Glanville, 14. Semesa Rokoduguni, 13. Max Clark, 12. Josh Matavesi, 11. Will Muir, 10. Rhys Priestland, 9. Ben Spencer, 1. Juan Schoeman, 2. Tom Dunn, 3. Christian Judge, 4. Josh McNally (c), 5. Mike Williams, 6. Josh Bayliss, 7. Miles Reid, 8. Zach Mercer 

Replacements: 16. Jack Walker, 17. Jamie Bhatti, 18. Henry Thomas, 19. Ewan Richards, 20. Ethan Staddon, 21. Will Chudley, 22. Tian Schoeman, 23. Alex Gray

Sale Sharks

15. Simon Hammersley, 14. Byron McGuigan, 13. Connor Doherty, 12. Sam Hill, 11. Tom Roebuck, 10. Robert Du Preez, 9. Will Cliff, 1. Ross Harrison, 2. Curtis Langdon, 3. Coenie Oosthuizen, 4. James Phillips, 5. JP Du Preez, 6. Jean-Luc Du Preez, 7. Jono Ross (c), 8. Dan Du Preez 

Replacements: 16. Ewan Ashman, 17. Valery Morozov, 18. WillGriff John, 19. Matt Postlethwaite, 20. Cameron Neild, 21. Faf De Klerk, 22. AJ Macginty, 23. Luke James


Match details

AJ Bell Stadium
Gallagher Premiership
12 February 2021
KO 20:00

Referee: Christophe Ridley
Half Time score: 10-24

Sharks:
Tries: Ross (24), du Preez (43), Neild (82)
Conversions: du Preez (26), MacGinty (83)
Penalties: du Preez (19)
Bath:
Tries: de Glanville (1), Dunn (30), Bayliss (40)
Conversions: Priestland (2, 31, 41)
Penalties: Priestland (21, 56)

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MATCH STARTS

Match underway between Sharks and Bath.

2'

Try for Bath! Sharks 0 - 5 Bath

Tom de Glanville scores for Bath.

3'

Conversion! Sharks 0 - 7 Bath

Rhys Priestland with a conversion for Bath.

20'

Penalty Goal! Sharks 3 - 7 Bath

Robert du Preez kicks a penalty goal for Sharks.

22'

Penalty Goal! Sharks 3 - 10 Bath

Rhys Priestland kicks a penalty goal for Bath.

25'

Try for Sharks! Sharks 8 - 10 Bath

Jono Ross scores for Sharks.

27'

Conversion! Sharks 10 - 10 Bath

Robert du Preez with a conversion for Sharks.

31'

Try for Bath! Sharks 10 - 15 Bath

Tom Dunn scores for Bath.

32'

Conversion! Sharks 10 - 17 Bath

Rhys Priestland with a conversion for Bath.

41'

Try for Bath! Sharks 10 - 22 Bath

Josh Bayliss scores for Bath.

42'

Conversion! Sharks 10 - 24 Bath

Rhys Priestland with a conversion for Bath.

42'

HALF TIME

Match score: Sharks 10 - 24 Bath.

SECOND HALF STARTS

We’re underway again.

44'

Try for Sharks! Sharks 15 - 24 Bath

Daniel du Preez scores for Sharks.

49'

Substitution

Tian Schoeman replaces Josh Matavesi for Bath.

51'

Substitution

Valery Morozov replaces Ross Harrison for Sharks.

51'

Substitution

WillGriff John replaces Coenie Oosthuizen for Sharks.

51'

Substitution

Faf de Klerk replaces Will Cliff for Sharks.

53'

Substitution

Ewan Ashman replaces Curtis Langdon for Sharks.

57'

Penalty Goal! Sharks 15 - 27 Bath

Rhys Priestland kicks a penalty goal for Bath.

58'

Substitution

Josh Matavesi replaces Tian Schoeman for Bath.

66'

Substitution

Jamie Bhatti replaces Juan Schoeman for Bath.

66'

Substitution

Henry Thomas replaces Christian Judge for Bath.

66'

Substitution

Cameron Neild replaces Jean-Luc du Preez for Sharks.

66'

Substitution

AJ MacGinty replaces Robert du Preez for Sharks.

66'

Substitution

Matt Postlethwaite replaces James Phillips for Sharks.

70'

Substitution

Alex Gray replaces Will Muir for Bath.

71'

Substitution

Luke James replaces Tom Roebuck for Sharks.

83'

Try for Sharks! Sharks 20 - 27 Bath

Cameron Neild scores for Sharks.

84'

Conversion! Sharks 22 - 27 Bath

AJ MacGinty with a conversion for Sharks.

86'

FULL TIME! It’s a win for Bath.

Final score: Sharks 22 - 27 Bath.