Match Centre: Gallagher Premiership: Sale Sharks 11-9 Bath
Jonny Hill was the only try-scorer in the game
©PA
Sale Sharks 11-9 Bath, Salford Stadium
George Ford kicked the decisive penalty goal in the 74th minute as Sale Sharks edged out Bath Rugby with a 11-9 margin in the latest round of the Gallagher Premiership at Salford Stadium on Friday.
Sale now are at the top of the table with 27 points while Bath with their third defeat in the competition are at second position.
Bath made a brisk start to the game as Finn Russell kicked back to back penalties in the 4th and 21st minutes to race to a six point lead before Sale Sharks responded when Jonny Hill powered from close range for the game's only try in the 24th minute.
George Ford though missed out on the conversion as the score remained at 5-6. Russell slotted his third penalty of the game as the visitors finished the opening half with a 5-9 lead.
The start of the second half saw Luke Cowan-Dickie and Ben Curry forced a turnover and Ford landed his first penalty goal of the game to make it a one-point game.
Simon McIntyre almost puts Sale in front at the end of the third quarter but he lost control as he looked to touchdown. The visitors though led throughout the game until the 74th minute when Ford kicked the decisive penalty goal to steer his team through to a thrilling win.
Team line up:
Sale Sharks: Carpenter; Roebuck, R du Preez, Bedlow, Reed; Ford, Warr; Rodd, Cowan-Dickie, Schonert; Wiese, Hill, Van Rhyn, Curry (capt), D du Preez.??
Reserves: Creevy, McIntyre, Harper, Beaumont, Bamber, Thomas, James, O'Flaherty.??
Bath: De Glanville; McConnochie, Ojomoh, Butt, Gallagher; Russell, Schreuder; Du Toit, Annett, Jonker; McNally, Van Velze, Richards, Cloete, Coetzee.
Reserves: Dunn, Schoeman, Griffin, Lee-Warner, Merigan, Spencer, Bailey, Redpath.
