Sale battle past Gloucester to secure home tie in play-offs

Sale Sharks booked a home tie in the Gallagher Premiership play-offs after digging deep to defeat Gloucester 25-22 at Kingsholm.

Sale are likely to host Leicester on May 13, with Alex Sanderson’s team chasing a second Premiership title 17 years after they were crowned English champions.

Gloucester made them fight every inch of the way, but Sale even overcame yellow cards for England internationals Tom Curry and Manu Tuilagi as they displayed admirable resilience.

George Ford’s 64th-minute penalty repelled Gloucester’s resistance before Sam James’ breakaway effort during the closing stages saw victory confirmed.

Lock Jean-Luc du Preez, number eight Jono Ross and substitute James scored tries for Sale, with Ford adding two penalties and two conversions, while Gloucester delivered touchdowns from captain Lewis Ludlow, plus wings Louis Rees-Zammit and Jonny May.

Adam Hastings, in his first match since suffering a shoulder injury on Christmas Eve, booted two conversions and a penalty but Gloucester were left with a losing bonus-point as scant consolation.

Hastings and hooker George McGuigan returned for Gloucester, while there were Kingsholm farewells for former England internationals Billy Twelvetrees, who is leaving the club at the end of this season, and retiring number eight Ben Morgan.

Sale showed one change from the team that swept aside Bristol at Ashton Gate last time out, with wing Arron Reed replacing Tom O’Flaherty as Sharks looked to build on their first Premiership away victory since early January.

England head coach Steve Borthwick looked on as Sale established an immediate attacking platform, but Sharks also suffered an early injury blow when prop Nick Schonert limped off and was replaced by Coenie Oosthuizen.

But Gloucester went close to opening the scoring after possession was quickly moved wide to Rees-Zammit, yet Reed’s last-ditch tackle denied his opposite number.

Rees-Zammit was left limping heavily after his near-miss, but he was able to run off any issue as Ford kicked Sale ahead through a 40-metre penalty.

Sale were then forced into a defensive rear-guard as Gloucester looked to capitalise on extensive pressure, yet their only reward was an equalising Hastings penalty nine minutes before half-time.

The Sharks forwards responded through some approach play and Du Preez crashed over for his second try in successive Premiership games, with Ford’s conversion making it 10-3.

Gloucester still had a chance to draw level as the interval approached when Rees-Zammit’s explosive midfield break freed scrum-half Stephen Varney.

Varney was tackled short of the line, but Sale stopped him illegally and referee Tom Foley yellow-carded Sharks’ England flanker Curry.

Sale briefly went down to 13 players shortly after the restart, with Curry’s England team-mate Tuilagi being sin-binned for offside.

And Gloucester made their numerical advantage count as Ludlow surged through an inviting gap to touch down, with Hastings’ conversion levelling the contest.

It got better for Gloucester minutes later as they went ahead for the first time following centre Chris Harris’ incisive midfield break.

Rees-Zammit still had it all to do, but his diving one-handed finish was brilliantly executed before Hastings converted from the touchline and Gloucester led by seven points.

But Sale were only behind for two minutes as they surged back upfield and Ross claimed a well-worked touchdown that saw Ford add the conversion.

And the fly-half’s relentless accuracy – he scored 21 points against Bristol eight days ago – served his team well as a penalty 16 minutes from time edged Sale back in front, and Gloucester could find no way back despite Rees-Zammit’s best efforts and a late May touchdown.