Brilliant Bristol blow Sharks out of the water

BRISTOL became only the second side to inflict a league defeat on Guinness Premiership leaders Sale Sharks yesterday when they beat them 22-14 at the Memorial Stadium.

Sale fly-half Valentin Courrent missed a late long-range penalty attempt that would have earned his side the consolation of a bonus point.

The visitors missed an early opportunity to take the lead as full-back Daniel Larrechea saw his long-range penalty sail past the near upright.

But former Wales A fly-half Jason Strange was on target a couple of minutes later from a similar position to open Bristol’s account and his second, from 35 metres, took him past 100 league points for the season.

Midway through the half Larrechea gave a long pass to Dean Schofield. The giant second row drew a couple of players, shrugged off their half-hearted tackles and powered to the line.

Courrent added the extras but the Sale lead was short-lived as Strange drilled his third penalty between the uprights just after the half-hour before Sale then conceded a penalty close to their own line and Strange landed his fourth penalty to give Bristol a 12-7 interval lead.

Into the second period and Strange added his fifth penalty but the try of the game came 15 minutes from time when Shaun Perry raced 22 metres to the line with Strange adding the extras from out wide on the left.

The visitors scored a late try when replacement scrum-half Sililo Martens crossed the line. Courrent converted but was then off-target with a 45-metre penalty attempt.

Newcastle head coach Rob Andrew believes it is too early to worry about the Guinness Premiership table after moving off the bottom thanks to Dave Walder’s last-gasp penalty in dreadful conditions against Wasps.

The substitute stand-off slotted three points from around 35 yards after Tom Rees was adjudged to have killed the ball in the final minute to earn Newcastle a 17-15 win.

Elsewhere in the Premiership on Saturday, Worcester’s Australian fly-half Shane Drahm returned to haunt his former club Northampton and steer the Warriors into a top four place.

Drahm scored all his team’s points in a 22-21 triumph at Franklin’s Gardens, and Worcester’s sixth victory from nine league starts catapulted them into play-off contention, just two points behind Leicester, in only their second season of Premiership rugby.

Saints full-back Bruce Reihana missed a penalty chance with the game’s final kick to edge Northampton home.

The Saints are now among a clutch of clubs dragged into a relegation battle after long-time basement club Leeds won at Bath on Friday.

Saracens boss Steve Diamond launched a fierce verbal attack on his players after they lost a mid-table battle 19-8 at Gloucester.

“That performance was dreadful, and certainly not far off one of our worst performances all season,” he said.

“Every player deserves a rollicking, from one to 15, because that was more than just a bad day in the office.”

Wings Mark Foster and James Bailey scored Gloucester’s tries, while fly-half Ludovic Mercier added two penalties and a drop-goal, with Saracens replying through hooker Matt Cairns’ touchdown and a Glen Jackson penalty.