‘We want to keep the dream alive’ – Sanderson revels in vital Sale win

The hosts flew out the gates into a 12-src lead in less than seven minutes after Ben Curry and Sam Dugdale both touched down but any hopes that it would be a one-sided contest were short lived.

Quins, fresh off a stunning triumph away to Bordeaux Begles that saw them reach the semi-finals of the Investec Champions Cup, were sluggish in the opening exchanges but eventually came to life.

The renowned attacking game created gaps in the Sharks defence for Louis Lynagh to land an 11-minute brace, although Arron Reed scored a try for Sale on the stroke of half-time to halt the visitors’ momentum.

That was the theme of the second half, too. Tries for Cadan Murley and Oscar Beared flanked a Ben Bamber yellow card as Quins closed within one point with a man advantage, but from the restart, Tom O’Flaherty’s charge down of Andre Esterhuizen’s attempted clearance bounced favourably for Raffi Quirke to put Sale back in the ascendency.

Reed got his second to put the hosts 13 points ahead, but Luke Northmore’s converted score ensured it would go down to the wire.

Finally, with the clock more than three minutes into the red, relief filled the stadium as the Sharks secured the turnover and the win.

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