IMPENETRABLE defence was the key to victory as Sharks beat Bristol 9-6 on Friday night.

The Edgeley Park side have still not conceded a try in the Guinness Premiership this season and Bristol were left seriously frustrated in their attempts to end that proud record.

But Sale are still seeking balance.

While their defensive record is impressive, their attacking play has not yet hit the same heights.

Sharks have scored just one try in three games so far and relied on Luke McAlister’s boot to provide the points as they ground out a win at the Memorial Stadium.

Bristol started well enough, a lively run from Tom Arscott giving the Sale defence something to think about, before Adrian Jarvis wasted an early chance to put points on the board, putting a penalty attempt wide.

But the game momentum quickly swung in favour of the visitors when Bristol centre Ed Barnes was sin-binned 16 minutes in for kicking the ball away in dissent.

Within a minute, McAlister nudged his side in front, impressively converting a long range penalty.

Sale showed plenty of ambition, Dwayne Peel providing quick ball from scrum half in an attempt to spread play out wide and utilise their pace behind the scrum.

But openings were not forthcoming and even with Bristol down to 14 men, Jarvis levelled the scores after the home side had been awarded a penalty.

Sharks threatened to blow the game wide open just before the interval but when Chris Jones was bearing down on the home try-line, he knocked on and another chance went begging.

In similar fashion to Sale’s previous match against Saracens, the second half developed into a battle of tactical kicking.

McAlister struck twice to give Sharks a six-point lead, kicking two penalties within the first 14 minutes of the second half, as Bristol were penalised at the scrum.

As time ran out, Bristol became increasingly desperate and tried to run the ball at the Sale defence.

Initially their more positive approach reaped rewards and Barnes kicked a penalty with 11 minutes remaining to cut the gap to three points.

Bristol kept up the pressure and there was a nervy moment for Sharks when Barnes opted to kick a penalty from near halfway.

But the Bristol man pushed his effort wide and after that escape, Sale regained command and piled pressure on the home side once more.

The hosts defence held out in the closing stages but Sale still comfortably sealed victory to maintain their perfect start to the new campaign.


Sale: Tait; Cueto, McAlister, Thomas, Lamont; Hodgson, Peel (Wigglesworth 67); Sheridan, Bruno, Roberts (Turner 70); Jones (Cox 69), Schofield (White 60); Ormsby, Abraham (Briggs 58), Chabal.

Not used: Bell, Ripol.

Bristol: Luke Arscott; Tom Arscott, Brew, Barnes, Lemi; Jarvis (Barden 41), Beveridge (Thomas 74); Clarke, Linklater (Blaney 79), Hobson; Sambucetti (Winters 60), Budgett; To'oala (Pennycock 60), El Abd, Ward-Smith.

Not used: Bracken, Lilo.

Attendance: 8,111