Aviva Premiership: Saints come from behind for 26-11 win over Sale
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 12/03/16 5:18pm
Northampton came from behind to register a 26-11 bonus-point win at Franklin's Gardens and move into the top four of the Aviva Premiership.
Sale went 11-0 in front after 28 minutes thanks to a Bryn Evans try and two penalties, but did not score another point as Northampton fought back after the break through tries from Ken Pisi, Tom Collins and JJ Hanrahan to add to Mikey Haywood's effort shortly before half-time.
Sale made six changes to their starting line-up for the clash, while Northampton lost Luther Burrell overnight to injury, with Harry Mallinder taking his place in the midfield.
Saints had most of the territory without creating much, while Sale found their lineout drive nullified by the home side in an uneventful opening 20 minutes.
But the visitors brought the game to life when they swept up the left wing where second row Evans powered through Ben Foden to score. Cipriani was wide with his conversion attempt.
He landed an easy penalty two minutes later, and Tom Arscott took over to send over a three-pointer from far out to hand the visitors an 11-0 lead.
Saints had produced nothing of note until three minutes from the break Mallinder cut back on the angle to burst through the defensive line. He went past two defenders only to be felled by veteran Peter Stringer five metres short.
The attacked continued, and saw Evans yellow-carded when referee JP Doyle judged the former All Black had deliberately batted down Stephen Myler's attempted pass with team-mates on his outside.
As they had done all half, Northampton kicked the penalty to the corner and after a driving maul stopped just short, Lee Dickson darted for the line. He too was stopped inches from the line, but Haywood was on hand to pick up and burrow over. Myler converted from the touchline to get the home side back in the match at 11-7 at the break.
With Sale down to 14 men, Northampton took advantage with Ken Pisi touching down after they moved the ball from one side of the pitch to the other to stretch the visitors. Myler converted as Evans returned to give Northampton a 14-11 lead.
Two minutes later Collins scored Saints' third try. James Craig turned Sale over and sent Dickson almost clear. The scrum-half was caught by Tom Arscott but he offloaded to Collins to touch down under the posts for an easy conversion.
Northampton were reduced to 14 men when George Pisi was yellow-carded for tripping Will Addison as he chased a kick, but the home side managed the 10 minutes well, going through the phases and keeping the ball away from the Sharks.
It kept Sale pinned in their half, but Sam James broke clear to set up some pressure. It was halted though when Arscott collapsed in a heap, having got his studs stuck in the pitch and twisting his knee badly. He had to be helped from the field after a lengthy delay for treatment.
With two minutes to go replacement fly-half Hanrahan showed superb feet to dance through the Sale defence from seven metres out, stretching to touch down for the bonus-point try.