| Bristol (13) 20 |
| Tries: Naulago, Ibitoye; Pens: MacGinty, Williams; Cons: MacGinty 2 |
| Sale (19) 36 |
| Tries: B Curry, J-L du Preez, Warr; Pens: Ford 4 Cons: Ford 3 Drop objective: Ford |
Sale Sharks sealed their place within the Premiership play-offs with a 36-20 win over Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate.
Three penalties from George Ford and a Ben Curry attempt helped Sale to an 11-point lead earlier than Siva Naulago scored for Bristol.
Tries from Jean-Luc du Preez and Gus Warr then stretched the Sharks’ lead, whereas Gabriel Ibitoye scored within the remaining 10 minutes for the hosts.
Second-placed Sale at the moment are seven factors away from Leicester within the desk.
After profitable 10 of their first 13 video games this season within the league, Sale’s kind had stuttered of late, with just one win of their earlier 4 Premiership matches and no wins away from dwelling since early October.
But they’re now within the driving seat to safe a house tie within the play-off semi-finals with two video games remaining.
George Ford and AJ MacGinty traded penalties inside the primary 10 minutes in what proved a cagey opening interval with each groups struggling to construct a lot in assault on a slick pitch within the Bristol rain.
Ford kicked one other two from the tee to nudge Sale again in entrance, MacGinty’s second then diminished the deficit to a few factors however Ford took benefit to fireplace over a drop-goal to make it 12-6.
Curry lastly scored the primary attempt of the night time after half an hour, shaking freed from a sort out within the Bristol 22 to run over unopposed.
Sale’s second attempt got here shortly after the second-half restart when Jono Ross made a line break earlier than passing inside for Du Preez to go over.
Ford kicked a fourth penalty along with his tally for the night time ultimately reaching 21 factors, whereas Gus Warr scored the Sharks’ third attempt 11 minutes from time, after recognizing a spot following a scrum.
Bristol, who had not misplaced since November at dwelling within the league, at the moment are all however out of play-off competition as they continue to be 10 factors behind fourth-placed London Irish with two video games to play.
Bristol: Piutau, Naulago, Jenkins, Williams, Ibitoye, MacGinty, Randall (c); Genge, Thacker, Lahiff, Batley, Vui, Luatua, Harding, Bradbury.
Replacements: Capon, Y Thomas, Sinckler, Jeffries, D Thomas, Uren, Bedlow, Lloyd.
Sin-bin: Genge (59)
Sale: Carpenter, Roebuck, R du Preez, Tuilagi, O’Flaherty, Ford, Warr; McIntyre, Van der Merwe, Schonert, J-L du Preez, Hill, T Curry, B Curry (c), Ross.
Replacements: Ashman, Rodd, Oosthuizen, Beaumont, Dugdale, Quirke, James, Reed.
Referee: Luke Pearce
