Stubborn Sale beat Bath in bonus point victory
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 17/04/16 6:35pm
Late tries from Dave Seymour and Mark Easter move Sale to sixth in the Premiership after a hard-fought 29-17 bonus-point win over Bath.
Bath dominated much of the territory in the first-half but three George Ford penalties was all they had to show for their efforts.
Instead Sale possessed the cutting edge and tries from Vadim Cobilas and Will Addison, as well as seven points from the boot of Danny Cipriani, left them leading 17-9 at the interval.
To the visitors' credit they continued to battle in the second period and deservedly levelled via Semesa Rokoduguni's touchdown and Ford's three-pointer.
But it was the Sharks who finished the stronger with Seymour and Easter crossing to keep European Champions Cup hopes alive.
Mike Ford's men have struggled throughout the campaign and last week's defeat to Saracens effectively ruled them out of the race for the top six.
No player has epitomised the west country side's season more than Ford's son, George, who has failed to repeat his brilliance from 2014/15.
The fly-half has been unable to hit the same high levels and he struggled early on here against Sale.
Ford put the opening kick-off into touch and then missed a penalty after his pack forced a Sharks' infringement at a maul.
In contrast, the Manchester side scored the opening points of the afternoon when Cobilas finished their first real chance.
Mike Haley was the instigator, dancing his way through the heart of the visiting rearguard before the Moldovan prop drove across the whitewash.
Ford then demonstrated impressive patience to win his side some good field position.
That led to a three-point opportunity which he converted but Bath struggled as Steve Diamond's men continually threatened with ball in hand.
Cipriani, as has often been the case in the previous two years, dictated proceedings superbly and after he sent Sam Tuitupou into space, the centre linked with midfield partner Sam James.
That gave James the chance to ship the ball out to Addison and the winger stepped inside the defence to touch down.
Ford kept the visitors in contention with a third effort off the tee but they required far more after the break.
That clinical edge materialised after the interval when excellent work from Devoto and Ford sent Rokoduguni over in the corner.
And minutes later Bath were level when Ford slotted another penalty.
However, Sharks came again and the pressure eventually resulted in a yellow card for Dominic Day.
Down to 14 men, Ford's men couldn't cope with the hosts' driving maul and Seymour crashed over for the decisive score
Cipriani's conversion attempt was controversially ruled not to have gone over but it didn't matter as Sale secured the win via Easter's try.
