Redpath 'a lot happier' (From Messenger Newspapers)

Redpath 'a lot happier'

7:00pm Monday 8th October 2012 in Sport

AFTER Friday’s reverse against Leicester Tigers, Sale Sharks director of rugby Bryan Redpath believed that there were plenty of positives to take away from the defeat.

"We needed that try before half time to give us a little bit of a cushion," he said. “We knew they had a strong bench coming off, in terms of the set piece, and they put us under the cosh during the second half. The referee makes decisions, and we accept them. When luck is against you, it’s against you.

“We had another opportunity involving Richie Vernon and we probably took the wrong option with Will’s effort as we had an overlap on the other wing."

He continued: "I'm a lot happier. There were just a couple of crucial passes again that didn't happen. We needed to get that try just before half-time and build a little bit of a cushion.

"When we raised the tempo of the game, we looked pretty dangerous but, against Leicester, you have to maintain it and we didn't.

"We just had a bad start to the second half and never really recovered. George Ford just kept kicking them into positions and that made it harder.

“I was encouraged by the players. I have never doubted them but we need that first win.

“When things are tough, they are tough but we have to stay together.”

Leicester director of rugby Richard Cockerill was full of praise for his side's brave defending, while also offering some words of encouragement for the Sharks.

"I thought Sale played really, really well and put us under a huge amount of pressure, and we dealt with that sin-binning in the first half," Cockerill said. "We thought it was a pretty soft try to concede, but we were under pressure the whole time and didn't have any ball in the first half.

"They were very good for their lead at half-time, but I thought our boys kept their composure. It's a good win as they were obviously desperate for the win. Sale played really well and we dealt with that pressure. Our commitment was good defensively and was as good as we've been for a long time.”