These were bleak times for the Pride of the North. The Sharks had
suffered three matches on the trot without a try, two defeats in a
row and some serious injuries to star players. The Sale supporters
arrived on a nasty Friday night in some trepidation.
Daniel
Larrechea played again at fly half, and put in a much better performance.
He had been tending towards playing the game as a second full back,
relying on his boot and playing for territory rather than attempting
to release the Sale back line. On Friday he began to pass the ball
a bit more, and to open play up.
His
place kicking was superb, as usual, and he knocked over three penalties
and a drop goal. Man of the match for this reporter, however, was
Magnus Lund. He not only played another fierce and deft game at
openside flanker, but he also ended the Sharks miserable try-free
drought, crossing the line to help the team, to a 17-12 win.
It
was never pretty, nor relaxing, but it was, at last a win. They
team will have to pull together with some seriously tough fixtures
ahead in European matches. Nevertheless, with this victory under
their belts, perhaps the future is brighter.
Report
by Kathryn Shoes for salesupporters.co.uk
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