Gallagher Premiership: Sale Sharks beat Bristol Bears with beautiful 38-0 win to maneuver into play-off locations | Rugby union information

Sale stopped Bristol of their tracks as they cruised into the Gallagher Premiership play-off locations with a shocking 38-0 win at Ashton Gate.

Bristol had excessive hopes of overtaking west nation rivals Tub, however Sale gave them no time or area on the ball and the Bears’ trademark working recreation hit the pads.

Scrum-half Raffi Quirke set the tone when he broke via the Bristol protection inside three minutes, and the Sharks by no means seemed again.

Tom Roebuck added a second strive earlier than halftime, then captain Ben Curry’s interception rating sealed the deal halfway via the third quarter, earlier than Roebuck winger Tom O’Flaherty n will get a bonus level 14 minutes from time.

Heart Rob du Preez kicked three penalties and three conversions, whereas flyhalf George Ford dropped a objective as Sale’s victory meant their title.

Bristol had collected a strive bonus level in every of their final 9 league matches, equaling the Premiership file.

Sale, in distinction, have been with no single level of description on their journeys to the Premiership this season, however these stats have been destroyed on a spectacular night time for Alex Sanderson’s facet.

England prop Ellis Genge withdrew from Bristol’s beginning line-up after struggling a again spasm, whereas it was confirmed earlier than kick-off that Bears fly-half AJ MacGinty was anticipated to face 4 months out as a consequence of a knee harm.

Sale produced a blistering begin, sending Bristol reeling when Quirke made a blistering break from 35 yards out to attain an outstanding solo landing which Du Preez transformed.

Sale then suffered a significant blow when middle Luke James left the motion after taking a blow to the shoulder, however that didn’t disrupt the Sharks’ spectacular early momentum when Du Preez kicked a penalty.

Bristol have been unable to get going, and their trigger was not helped halfway via the primary half when Harry Randall was proven a yellow card for taking Sale hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie off the ball.

Randall had barely left the sector earlier than the Sharks prolonged their lead due to a powerful strategy from their forwards which led to Ford releasing Roebuck with an extended move, and he utilized a easy end.

Du Preez’s conversion made it 17-0, earlier than Bristol suffered one other harm setback when their main strive scorer, Gabriel Ibitoye, went off with an obvious hamstring downside.

Ford then underlined Sale’s dominance by scoring a drop-goal because the guests took a 20-point lead with them into the break.

Bristol discovered no manner into the competition, and after Du Preez kicked a second penalty, Curry intercepted residence skipper Fitz Harding’s speculative move to cross from shut vary, and Du Preez’s conversion noticed Sale attain 30 factors.

He accomplished his hat-trick from the penalty spot halfway via the second half, and all Bristol might concentrate on was making an attempt to interrupt their factors duck in a recreation that had clearly dominated them.

Sale had different concepts as they raced to a most 5 factors in thrilling vogue when O’Flaherty cleared simply exterior his 22, then linked up with Quirke earlier than ending in type.

It stated every part a few match the place Sale took their probability magnificently, constructing on a strong basis offered by an imperious defensive show.

Bristol, nevertheless, have been left to replicate on their failure to choose up some extent in a Premiership match for the primary time since 2016.

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