Bath sink struggling Sale
Bath kept themselves in the Guinness Premiership play-off hunt with a 34-15 bonus-point victory over Sale at the Recreation Ground.
By Rachel Griffiths
Last Updated: 17/04/10 5:39pm
Bath kept themselves in the Guinness Premiership play-off hunt with a 34-15 bonus-point victory over Sale at the Recreation Ground.
The hosts posted five tries on the way to their emphatic win, giving them a mathematical chance of making the play-offs, while floundering Sale will now be looking to end their relegation fears against Newcastle at home next Friday.
Sale's game plan was disrupted from the start when Charlie Hodgson withdrew with a virus and was replaced by Richard Wigglesworth, leaving the visitors without a recognised goal-kicker.
Disadvantage
Wigglesworth demonstrated Sale's disadvantage when he fumbled a penalty after three minutes, then missed a second 14 minutes in, slicing his kick badly.
Bath were untidy at the other end, spilling the ball and firing sloppy passes until Olly Barkley edged them ahead with a simple penalty on 18 minutes.
The first try of the clash came for the home side on 25 minutes, as Danny Grewcock set up a catch and drive from a line-out and Lions hooker Lee Mears broke free of the maul to touch down, with Barkley adding the conversion.
Sale were evidently feeling the heat as their discipline began to unravel and captain Dean Schofield earned a warning after one too many penalties.
Bath stretched their lead to 17-0 soon after when Barkley evaded Carraro to score by the posts, also adding the extras.
Wigglesworth managed to pull back three points on the stroke of half-time but Bath replied immediately after the break when Matt Banahan fought off the tackle of Marika Vakacegu and Barkley converted to make it 24-3 to the hosts.
Joe Maddock added Bath's fourth try on 50 minutes to earn a bonus point for the home side, but Sale responded as Vakacegu, Mathew Tait and Chris Jones combined to send Ben Cohen over at the other end.
Reshuffle
Bath, aware of the need to look after their resources for Tuesday's rescheduled match with Northampton, reshuffled their side from the bench, but Sale's attempt to take advantage of the disruption went unrewarded.
The reorganised home side then created an opportunity for prop David Barnes, who powered over for Bath's fifth try from close range.
Barkely's conversion attempt hit the post but Bath already had their victory wrapped up, and a converted Kris Ormsby try for the visitors in the 77th minute was little more than a consolation as the home side celebrated their bonus-point win.