'It’s so simple for us when there’s no ifs, buts and maybes' – Ben Curry

Ben Curry believes Sale are in a “good place” again after a 35-14 victory over Newcastle stretched their winning streak to three league matches.

Sharks had looked to be out of the top-four race after a torrid start to the year but bonus-point wins over Exeter, Harlequins and Falcons have kept them in the hunt and two points off a play-off place.

Every game is a must-win with Sharks’ fate out of their own hands, but ahead of their final matches against Leicester and Saracens, captain Curry believes they can pull off a dramatic turnaround.

“I feel like we’re getting better each game, so from that point of view I feel like we’re in a good place,” he said.

“It’s so simple for us at times when there’s no ifs, buts and maybes – you have to come out and act as though there’s no next week in terms of the Premiership.

“I feel like we’re a team with our backs against the wall, like we’ve got no option but to do it. Apart from that, we’re in a good place.”

Tries from Curry, who was on the scoresheet for the third game in a row, and Joe Carpenter put the travelling Sharks in control before scores from Guy Pepper and Tim Cardall dragged Falcons level.

There was to be no first league win of the season for Falcons, however, as Luke Cowan-Dickie, Tom Roebuck and Rob du Preez all crossed to put Sharks out of sight.

“I think any place where I haven’t won – I know they didn’t have a great result last weekend – is a tough place to go,” said Curry.

“I don’t think the scoreline reflects the game, I think it reflects how well we responded to Newcastle. In terms of the general game, I thought it was more even than the scoreline reflected.”

Team Form

Last 5 Games

36 - 7

24 - 18

43 - 10

10 - 42

28 - 14

40 - 13

47 - 17

43 - 10

31 - 27

45 - 26

1

Wins

2

1

Streak

2

8

Tries Scored

17

-102

Points Difference

-39

1/5

First Try

2/5

1/5

First Points

3/5

0/5

Race To 10 Points

3/5

For Steve Diamond, this was a step in the right direction after a chastening 85-14 defeat to Bristol last weekend.

“I was interested in how we would respond to last week – you can put skill into people, upskill them and put knowledge into them, but you can’t teach character,” said the Falcons’ consultant director of rugby.

“I think the character the squad has shown after last week is commendable. There are some positives out of this week.

“The game was a combination of us wearing out and them having a bench that came on and made the difference.

“Similar to the Leicester game – we bring it level and then we mess it up on a basic, receiving of a kick-off which gives them pressure.

“We then lose a ball five metres out from a scrum which is unheard of these days, then they score a try.

“We’ll look at ourselves, give credit to Sale – they came and did a job – and we move on to Bath in a fortnight.”