Finn Russell pulled the strings as Premiership leaders Bath ended Sale’s unbeaten home record this season with a hard-earned 32-23 win at Salford Stadium.
The Scotland fly-half created three tries – Two for Ruaridh McConnochie in the first half and the clincher six minutes from time for Tom Carr-Smith – and also added 12 points with the boot to give his side a hard-earned win on the road.
Scotland coach Gregor Townsend will have been delighted to have seen Russell’s contribution ahead of the start of the Six Nations next weekend.
World Cup winner Bongi Mbonambi previews the Sharks versus Cardiff URC face-off
World Cup winner Bongi Mbonambi previews the Sharks versus Cardiff URC face-off
However he will have been concerned to see flanker Josh Bayliss limp off late in the first half.
Wales prop WillGriff John will definitely miss the opening round of the Six Nations after the Sale tight-head went off during the first half with a concussion.
Fixture
Gallagher Premiership
Sale
Bath
It took Bath the best part of an hour to get on top of their tenacious rivals in a close contest but in the end they had just too much for Sale.
England’s players were all mothballed ahead of the championship which affected the make-up of both sides.
While Bath were without four players including captain Ben Spencer and centre Ollie Lawrence, Sale had to cope without eight men.
Arron Reed, added to Scotland’s Six Nations squad because of an injury doubt over Duhan van der Merwe, gave Sale an 18th-minute lead with a smart finish.
Reed took Rob du Preez’s pass to dart between Joe Cokanasiga and Louis Schreuder to score out wide.
The visitors hit back seven minutes later with a try from McConnochie, who dived over in the left-hand corner from Russell’s pass.
Press Association
And the same duo combined just before half time to good effect with Russell’s delayed pass putting the left wing clear for his second try.
In between though Sale stand-off Rob du Preez burrowed over down the blind side for the Sharks’ second try after Tom O’Flaherty had been held up near to the line so the home side led 16-12 at the break.
Sale had a big let-off in the 46th minute when Max Ojomoh crossed from another delightful pass by Russell. However the centre’s juggle as he went over proved costly as his loss of control saw the ball catch the shoulder of Sale’s last defender O’Flaherty and the Television Match Official stepped in to cross the score off for a knock-on.
The Bath centre made amends eight minutes later though, forcing his way over after a 20-phase barrage.
Russell’s medium-range penalty stretched Bath’s lead on the hour.
Then his vision delivered the killer blow as, seeing there was no-one deep in defence for Sale, he hammered a penalty long from his own 22 and substitute Carr-Smith won the race to score.
Russell’s added-time penalty meant that Sale did not even earn the consolation of a bonus point despite Joe Carpenter’s late try.
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