Match Report: Northampton Saints 24 - 10 Sale Sharks

Northampton Saints got back to winning ways under the Friday Night Lights at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens as they beat Sale Sharks 24-10 in an exhibition clash.

The final preparation before the Gallagher Premiership returns in earnest next week saw tries from Burger Odendaal, Ollie Sleightholme and Trevor Davison give the hosts a nine-point lead at the break, while Sale scored two of their own through Rob Du Preez and Tom O’Flaherty.

The sole score in the second half came from replacement Ewan Baker as he finished of a fine Saints move to give Northampton the victory. 

FIRST HALF

It was the home side that began on the front foot with Juarno Augustus and the returning George Hendy making early breaks and they were rewarded for that early dominance with a score four minutes in. Charlie Savala’s cross field kick found Courtney Lawes on the wing, and the backrower threw the ball inside to Augustus who in-turn passed to Burger Odendaal, and the South African went over for the first try of the game.

Savala added the extras but it didn’t take long for Sale to reply, as Rob Du Preez crossed for a try in the corner eight minutes in. The centre couldn’t convert his own try from wide out, but the gap had been cut to two points. 

And the away side were ahead just moments later after Saints lost Tom Lockett to the sin bin for a high tackle. Sale immediately took advantage of the space their extra man provided, with the ball going through the hands and finding Tom O’Flaherty in the corner. 

Saints re-took the lead going into the second quarter of the game, with Ollie Sleightholme finishing acrobatically in the corner. From a line out five metres out, the ball was whipped wide, and Tom Litchfield made good ground. From the next phase, Savala did well to hold on to the ball, and pass out wide to Sleightholme for the score. The fly-half couldn’t add the extras this time around, but Saints were back ahead.

Sale’s Sam Dugdale was next to see yellow for deliberate knocking the ball out of Garside’s hands, and in similar fashion to the earlier yellow card, Saints made them pay. A rolling maul brought Northampton close, and after a couple of pick and go attempts, it was Trevor Davison who found a route to the line.

Savala’s extras gave Saints a nine-point lead and though Sale looked to add a third try of their own on the 40-minute mark, great defence from the men in Black, Green and Gold held out and saw Northampton into the break ahead. 

SECOND HALF

The game stagnated somewhat after the restart and Saints were made to wait ten minutes until they for their fourth score. Ewan Baker, who had only been on the pitch for a matter of seconds was on the end of a lovely move for the home sides fourth try of the game. Litchfield made the initial break into the Sale half and offloaded well to replacement winger Tom Seabrook who darted the left wing before passing inside to Baker for the score.

Neither side could break through the other’s defence for the remainder of the match though and – while a raucous cheer for Saints Under-18 Jonny Weimann, as he entered the match to feature in his first senior match for Saints, lifted the energy around the stadium – the scoreline would remain at 24-10 until the final whistle. 

It's back to the Gallagher Premiership for Saints next Friday as they travel to Ashton Gate to face Bristol Bears, looking to cement their place at the top of the table on Friday (22 March, kick-off: 7.45pm).

LINE UPS

Saints: 15 Hendy, 14 Ramm, 13 Litchfield, 12 Odendaal, 11 Sleightholme, 10 Savala, 9 Garside; 1 Iyogun, 2 Cruse, 3 Davison, 4 Mayanavanua, 5 Lockett, 6 Lawes, 7 Ludlam (c), 8 Augustus.
Replacements: Robbie Smith, Alex Waller, Ethan Waller, Paul Hill, Chunya Munga, Alex Moon, Angus Scott-Young, Sam Graham, Jonny Weimann*, Joel Matavesi, Tom Seabrook, Will Glister, Ewan Baker.

Sale: 15 Carpenter, 14 O’Flaherty, 13 R du Preez (c), 12 Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11 Reed, 10 Curtis, 9 Warr; 1 Rodd, 2 Taylor, 3 Schonert, 4 Wiese, 5 Beaumont, 6 Van Rhyn, 7 Dugdale, 8 JL du Preez.
Replacements: Agustin Creevy, Ross Harrison, Si McIntyre, James Harper, Hyron Andrews, Ben Bamber, Cam Neild, Tristan Woodman, Will Riley, Raffi Quirke, Sam James, Joe Bedlow, Osian Roberts, Obi Ene, Telusa Veainu