Sharks 21 Chiefs 16

 

Sale Sharks 21

Exeter Chiefs 16

Mark Stevens at the Salford City Stadium
Exeter Chiefs were the victims of a second half 'Shark attack' as Mark Cueto's record-breaking try help re-ignited Sale's fight for survival in the Aviva Premiership.

The England international has for years been regarded as one of Sale's favourite rugby sons. However, tonight he wrote his name not only into club folklore, but also the history of the top flight as his 76th touchdown took him to the top of the tree.

Already level on 75 tries with Steve Hanley - another of Sale's all-time deadly finishers - the 33-year-old's decisive score not only helped Sale gain revenge for their opening day mauling at Sandy Park, but at the same time saw Steve Diamond's side finally overcome the Chiefs in league battle.

In five previous Premiership meetings, the Chiefs had ruled the roost with an unblemished record. This time, though, it was the hungry Sharks who had the bit between their teeth when it really mattered.

Having dominated the first half, taking with them a 13-5 lead thanks to a try from Watisoni Votu and eight points from Gareth Steenson, the Chiefs went MIA [missing in action] in the second period as the Sharks produced an impressive fightback.

Afterwards Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter blamed "stupid" and "silly" mistakes as part of his side's downfall. However, Sale's valiant resolve also had to be applauded as they reaped points for Cueto, Rob Miller, Danny Cipriani and Nick McLeod.

Baxter also admitted lessons would need to be learned from this latest setback ahead of their impending dates with Saracens, London Welsh and reigning champions Harlequins. That work will no doubt begin in earnest on Monday morning back at Chiefs HQ.

Back in Premiership action for the first time in a month, the Chiefs made seven changes from the side that lost at home to Northampton Saints in their last top flight outing.

Into the pack came skipper Tom Hayes, Ben White and James Scaysbrook; whilst behind Will Chudley started at scrum-half; Sireli Naqelevuki and Jason Shoemark formed the midfield partnership and there were new wingers in Jack Nowell and Votu, the latter of whom was making his league debut.

Sale, fresh from securing their spot in the LV= Cup semi-finals, were also able to field a powerful line-up that included England internationals Cipriani and Cueto; as well as established stars such as Sam Tuitupou, Dwayne Peel, Dave Seymour and the highly-rated Braid.

With both sides desperate to return to winning ways, it was little surprise that the game kicked off a frenetic pace. The early exchanges were fierce, especially up front, but it was the visitors who set the early attacking tone on a cold night in Manchester.

Exeter's early endeavour was impressive and they thought they had broken the deadlock on nine minutes when a rampaging run through the middle from Naqelevuki created quick ball which was worked at pace to the left flank, but with the line in sight Nowell knocked on and the home side were spared.

Undeterred, the Chiefs continued to push forward and when Votu was released at pace, a high tackle on the Fijian flyer as he bared down on the try-line allowed Steenson to slot his first penalty of the game.

But no sooner had Baxter's side got themselves in front, they preceded to shoot themselves in the foot as they made a hash of the restart, gifting the Sharks a penalty deep inside enemy territory.

Backing themselves to go for the try, the initial home raid was thwarted before a second attempt saw Seymour collect the five-metre line-out and Braid peeled off the back of the maul to drive over the line for an uncoverted score.

It was a somewhat soft score to concede, but once Steenson restored the Exeter lead with a second penalty chance, it was the Chiefs who dominated for the remainder of the half.

Another slick attack from the Chiefs saw Shoemark and Neil Clark combine to send Luke Arscott over in the corner, but having gone upstairs to review the decision, referee Greg Garner chalked off the full-back's score for a forward pass from Clark.

Although the Sharks survived that latest Exeter charge, there was no stopping the Devonians on 34 minutes when Votu - aided by a number of his team-mates - drove over the whitewash for the Chiefs first try, whch Steenson duly converted with ease.

As the half drew towards a close, twice the referee had to intervene after a spot of handbags between the two rivals, but there was to be no change in the scoreline, even though Cipriani failed with a long-range penalty with the last kick of the half.

HALF TIME SALE SHARKS 5 EXETER CHIEFS 13

With Cipriani unsuccessful in his first two kicks at goal, Steenson - on his 100th league appearance for the Chiefs - had no such problems as he extended his side's lead with a third penalty inside four minutes of the restart.

Moments later and it would get no better for the former London Wasps and Melbourne Rebels man, who saw another long-range penalty fail to find the target.

The Sharks needed a lifeline and it duly arrived just before the hour mark when Cueto was on hand to finish off a clever counter-attack from the home side. It was a memorable score for the long-serving winger as it took him to 76 tries in the top flight.

Full-back Miller - now entrusted with the kicking duties - landed the conversion from wide on the left flank, before thundering over a penalty from just inside the Chiefs half as the Sharks cut the deficit to just a point.

Suddenly it was the Sharks who had all the momentum and the Chiefs were clutching to the ropes. And things did not get any easier for the visitors as they lost Kai Horstmann - on his league debut - to the sin-bin for not rolling away.

Immediately the Sharks punished the back-row's indiscretion as Cipriani - back on kicking duties following Miller's withdrawal - finally found the mark with a laser-guided punt that cannoned in off the right post to make it 18-16.

Whereas the Chiefs had been flying in the first period, the second half proved a totally different story as the visitors struggled to match the intensity of the hungry Sharks.

Now bossing both territory and possession, Steve Diamond's men cleverly positioned themselves back in Exeter's half, creating the opening for replacement McLeod to land a vital
drop-goal from 30 metres out.

Although it was not quite a knock-out blow, the Chiefs were certainly reeling.

However, Arscott's late burst through the heart of the home defence threatened to undo all of Sale's dogged work in the dying minutes. Sadly for the Chiefs, he slipped just short of the line and in the ensuing play the visitors failed to capitalise, this despite home lock Kearnan Myall being sent to the sin-bin.

It capped a disappointing conclusion to a game the Chiefs know they could - and probably should - have emerged triumphant from. Next stop for them is a trip to face Saracens on their new turf.

Sharks: R Miller (N McLeod 63); C Amesbury (W Addison 50), T Leota, S Tuitupou, D Cipriani, D Peel (W Cliff 50-59); R Harrison (A Dickinson 54), T Taylor (M Jones 60), H Thomas (T Buckley 60); T Holmes (F McKenzie 54) K Myall; D Braid (R Vernon 2-12, 44), D Seymour (capt), J Gaskell.

Tries - Braid, Cueto; Penalties - Miller, Cipriani; Conversion - Miller; Drop-Goal - McLeod

Yellow Card - Myall

Chiefs: L Arscott; W Votu (P Dollman 59), S Naqelevuki, J Shoemark, J Nowell; G Steenson, W Chudley (H Thomas 56); B Moon (C Rimmer 62), N Clark (J Yeandle 70), H Tui (A Brown 70); T Hayes (capt, A Muldowney 59), D Mumm; B White (K Horstmann 52), J Scaysbrook, R Baxter. Replacement (not used): I Mieres.

Try - Votu; Conversion - Steenson; Penalties - Steenson (3)

Yellow Card: Horstmann

Referee: G Garner

Touch Judges: S Terheege & R Goodliffe

4th Official: S Lee

Attendance: 8,232

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS v Saracens (A), Aviva Premiership, Saturday, February 16 (3pm)