Sharks too strong for Agen
Sale kept alive their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of the Amlin Challenge Cup with a 41-21 win over Agen.
Last Updated: 18/12/11 5:27pm
Sale kept alive their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of the Amlin Challenge Cup with a 41-21 victory over Agen.
The Sharks claimed a crucial bonus point success at Edgeley Park to remain hot on the heels of Pool 5 leaders Brive, with the French side travelling to England in the next round of fixtures.
Winger Tom Brady bagged a brace of tries while David Seymour, Cillian Willis and substitute Scott Mathie also touched down for the hosts.
Fly-halves Valentin Courrent and Nick McLeod swapped early penalties before the home side took advantage of a yellow card shown to Agen lock Damien Lagrange.
Emphatic fashion
The Sharks made their one-man advantage count in emphatic fashion with Brady grabbing his first of the afternoon midway through the opening half.
Skipper Seymour then touched down himself seven minutes later, helping the Sharks establish a 20-6 lead.
Courrent's third penalty just before the interval cut the gap to 11 points, though any hopes of a comeback from the Top 14 side were dashed just two minutes into the second half.
Brady crossed for his second try and the Sharks secured a vital bonus when scrum-half Williams scored their fourth.
Agen's replacement centre Jamie Robinson, the former Wales international, and Tongan number eight Opeti Fonua then scored tries for the visitors to close the gap, but a late try from Scott Mathie sealed a comfortable Sale win.