Gloucester end losing Gallagher Premiership run to consign Sale Sharks to fifth straight defeat
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
ByEurosport
Updated 28/01/2024 at 19:40 GMT
Gloucester recorded just their third win of the season as they beat Sale Sharks 32-20 at Kingsholm Stadium. Tries from Ollie Thorley, George McGuigan, Ruan Ackermann and Charlie Atkinson gave the Cherry and Whites a commanding lead at the break and George Skivington’s side survived a late fightback to pick up a welcome five points. The defeat is a fifth in a row across all competitions for Sale.
Kirill Gotovtsev of Gloucester Rugby celebrates as a penalty is awarded during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Gloucester Rugby and Sale Sharks at Kingsholm Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Gloucester, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
Gloucester broke their club record nine-game losing run in the Gallagher Premiership and inflicted a fifth straight defeat on Sale Sharks with a 32-20 victory at Kingsholm Park.
The Cherry and Whites took control of the game early as Ollie Thorley, moments after making a try-saving tackle, gathered a loose ball, beat a man and raced 60 metres to score.
Though Gus Warr stretched under legs to bring the scores level, George McGuigan fed a lineout then gathered the ball at the back of a maul to dive over, before Ruan Ackermann burst through a line thirty metres out to extend the lead.
The hosts' final try of the match came five minutes before the break when Charlie Atkinson scored on his club debut.
Despite many phases of play in the second half, the visitors seldom threatened to score with their only try coming from substitute Tommy Taylor 11 minutes from time when the sides were reduced to 14-a-side.
Defeat was worsened for Sale with injuries suffered by Cobus Wiese and Daniel du Preez.
Talking Point - All well again in Gloucester world
Four victories in the Challenge Cup in the last month or so gave supporting evidence that the world was not falling in at Kingsholm Stadium, but the ending of a club-record nine straight domestic league defeats will have delivered much relief. They will just wish it did not come before the two-month domestic break.
There is plenty to like about their side. Charlie Atkinson on debut showed he is capable of holding the fort, if not quite fill the void left by Adam Hastings, who is set for another prolonged absence after sustaining a knee injury. The dominance of the scrum through Kirill Govotsev and George McGuigan was another plus point, while Chris Harris and Sebastien Atkinson were typically tenacious in defence in the centre.
International fly-half and club full-back Carreras shone in attack and defence and then there was left winger Thorley...
Player of the Match - Ollie Thorley (Gloucester)
What a force of nature this guy is. Within the space of a minute early he decisively put the game in his side's favour. Wiese seemed certain to score when receiving the ball five yards from the Gloucester tryline in space but the winger managed to get his body under man and ball before team-mates converged to help deny a try.
Then, moments later, he picked up a loose ball, stepped outside a would-be tackler and there was no hope of catching him as he raced 60 metres for a try. Maybe even better than this for a highlight moment was him chasing a huge long kick and nailing Telusa Veainu with a crunching, legal tackle at full speed.
Player Ratings
Gloucester: Carreras 8, Hearle 6, Harris 7, S Atkinson 7, Thorley 9*, C Atkinson 7, Englefield 7; Ford-Robinson 6, McGuigan 8, Gotovtsev 8, Clarke 6, Alemanno 6, Ackermann 7, Ludlow 6, Mercer 7. Subs: Blake 6, Knight 6, Tuisue 7, Clement 6, Varney 6.
Sale: Carpenter 6, Veainu 5, James 7, Bedlow 5, Reed 6, Du Preez 6, Warr 7; McIntyre 5, Creevy 6, Harper 6, Wiese 6, Beaumont 6, Van Rhyn 7, Dugdale 5, Du Preez. Subs: Taylor 7, Onasanya 6, Bamber 6, Birch 6, Ma'asi-White 6, Harper 6.
Match Highlights
6' TRY FOR GLOUCESTER! What a turnaround. Thorley latched onto Du Preez's errant pass at his own 22 and then rounded his opposite number before sprinting all the way for a try.
15' TRY FOR SALE! Warr stretched under bodies to touch down just over the line. It was very difficult to see whether he got there, but the referee called it a try and there was no reason to overturn it.
20' TRY FOR GLOUCESTER! At the second attempt Gloucester go over for the try. McGuigan threw into the lineout and then got the ball at the back of the maul and dived over.
23' TRY FOR GLOUCESTER! Where was the Sale defence. Mercer had the ball and waited for Ackermann to charge at the line and plays the ball to him perfectly in stride and he charges towards the line.
35' TRY FOR GLOUCESTER! A try on debut for Atkinson. Thorley burst through and then placed the ball back for Englefield who passed wide to Carreras and he flicked inside for Atkinson to score.
40' TRY FOR GLOUCESTER! What a blow for Sale just before the break. Dugdale was slow to get back and Carreras seemed to stretch around him and touch the ball down after chasing his own kick.
40+2' TRY RULED OUT! Replays show Dugdale got there by just a fraction to touch the ball down before the Gloucester #15.
68' TRY FOR SALE! Taylor dives over after Sale had been camped on the Gloucester line for a couple of minutes.
Key Stat
- 100 - It had been 100 days since Gloucester recorded a victory in the Gallagher Premiership.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article