Gloucester 36-20 Sale Sharks, Kingsholm
Gloucester Rugby secured a stunning 37-24 bonus-point win against Sale Sharks at Kingsholm, bouncing back from last week’s defeat to Exeter.
The Cherry & Whites delivered an electric performance, scoring five tries and leaping into the Premiership’s top four.
The hosts set the tone early with an attack from deep inside their own half. Gareth Anscombe and Santi Carreras combined brilliantly, releasing Chris Harris who set up Josh Hathaway. Hathaway found Tomos Williams, who popped the ball to Carreras to finish in the corner.
Carreras soon added a penalty kick after Gloucester’s dominant scrum forced a penalty, extending their lead to 8-0. Sale responded through Rob du Preez’s penalty after Lewis Ludlow was penalized at the breakdown.
Moments later, Max Llewellyn sliced through Sale’s defense, racing past Tom O’Flaherty to score under the posts, with Carreras adding the conversion. Josh Hathaway followed with a try on the opposite wing after a powerful Gloucester attack, bringing the halftime score to 22-10.
Sale Sharks began the second half with renewed aggression. Ben Curry and Luke Cowan-Dickie powered over from close-range mauls, reducing the deficit as Gloucester endured two yellow cards for Mayco Vivas and Clark.
However, Gloucester captain Lewis Ludlow intercepted a pass and linked up with Llewellyn, who scored his second try of the game. Carreras added the extras, extending the lead to 29-17.
Despite a late Sale try from Tom Roebuck, Gloucester sealed the victory with a phenomenal kick and chase by Williams, securing the all-important bonus point and a final score of 37-24.
Team line up:
Gloucester: Carreras; Llewellyn, Harris, S. Atkinson, Hathaway; Anscombe, Williams; Vivas, Singleton, Gotovtsev, F. Thomas, Clark, Clement, Ludlow (c), Ackermann.
Reserves: Blake, Rapava-Ruskin, Knight, Clarke, Tuisue, Englefield, Barton, C. Atkinson.
Sale: Carpenter; Roebuck, R. Du Preez, James, O'Flaherty; Curtis, Warr; Rodd, Cowan-Dickie, Opoku-Fordjour, Van Rhyn, Hill, T. Curry, B. Curry (c), J-L Du Preez.
Reserves: McElroy, McIntyre, John, Beaumont, D. Du Preez, N. Thomas, Bedlow, Dugdale.
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