You could hardly call this game a high-octane thriller but it was entertaining and interesting in its own way. Not hugely memorable, however, so this is going to be a bit brief.
Continue reading “View from the south stand: Sale 25 Newcastle 20 [PRC]”
Any fireworks on the night were firmly confined off-pitch as Sale completed a workmanlike but efficient win over a somewhat under-strength Saints team.
Continue reading “View from the south stand: Sale 30 Northampton 6 [GP]”
This was a much better performance from the Sharks than I’ve seen in previous games. The scrum remains an area of concern, but massive improvements in other areas. Special shout-out to Holly Bawden, who scored four tries from the right wing.
Continue reading “View from the Birtles: Sale Sharks 43 Loughborough Lightning 15 [AP15s]”
There comes a point as a supporter (usually when the cold has consigned your toes to a distant memory) when you find yourself wondering why on earth you actually pay good money for this. But there are also those times (often in the same game) when you say this is why I pay good money to be here.
Continue reading “View from the south stand: Sale Sharks 28 Harlequins 22”
Honestly, I didn’t think we would take this one: too many front-line absentees for comfort and at least one starting that I was afraid was coming back too soon from an injury (and it looks as if I was right).
Continue reading “View from the south stand: Sale Sharks 15 Exeter 25”
What is it with Sale and second halves? Two games, two good half-time leads squandered; First half: 41–17, second half: 6–33.
Continue reading “View from the armchair: London Irish 31 Sale 31 (GP)”
It was as if the previous eighteen months hadn’t happened. Familiar view, familiar faces (some sadly missing – we remember them), familiar Sale second-half implosion and — hooray! (?) — the return of Squeaky Bum Time™.
Continue reading “(The original) View from the South stand: Sale 20 Bath 19”
I’m planning on going to some women’s matches this season, if they’re at home on a free weekend, so I thought I might as well do some reports as well.
I say reports – it’s going to take me a while to get to recognise players, so early efforts may be a bit sketchy. Alternatively, I may make them primarily photo essays, like this one.
Anyway, start as you mean to go on, so I popped down to Heywood Road to watch the pre-season friendly match against Saracens.
First half, Sale were… not good. They were bullied in the pack and made too, too many basic errors. The kicking was uninspiring, too, with many kicks flubbling along a low trajectory like an arthritic pigeon.
We got a massive improvement in the second half, though. The pack started doing a bit of pushing around itself, the kicking was much crisper and the overall play was much more promising.
Sarries won by loads to a few*, but this was just a pre-season game, so it’s not worth reading too much into it. I’ll reserve judgement until after the opening game against Worcester on the 4th September.
Meanwhile, here are some pictures.
* 12-50, apparently…
Back in the mists of time, when Dimes first returned to take over at a struggling club, there was much talk of “year zero” in the rebuilding process. This season, for the first time since then, I get a real feeling that this genuinely is year zero and that we will look back on this year as a foretaste of the greatness to come.
Continue reading “View from the armchair: Exeter 40 Sale 30”
It’s the difference between the hardened, been-there-done-that, old lags and the up-and-coming challengers. Under the cosh, suffer a crippling blow, but still pull something out of the bag.
Continue reading “View from the armchair: Exeter 20 Sale 19”
an old grey dog 
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