Sale Sharks director of rugby, Alex Sanderson, praised his team’s maturity in the closing stages of their 24-17 victory over Leicester Tigers. This is the second consecutive week in which Sale demonstrated composure in a tight match, securing a second Gallagher Premiership win of the season.
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The Sharks dominated the game at Welford Road and took a deserved lead, with Rob du Preez’s try leveling the match after Ollie Hassell-Collins had earlier drawn Leicester level. Just as in the previous week’s narrow win over Northampton Saints, Sale faced intense late pressure from their opponents.
Sanderson expressed his satisfaction with his team’s performance, saying, “We had to find some reserves and shake off the frustration, which we could have felt from not scoring our opportunities, and grind it out, which we did.”
He highlighted the players’ composure under pressure, even when the match reached its tense closing moments. Sanderson admitted that the calmness on the field was in contrast to his own excitement on the touchline. He recalled shouting instructions to the players, while they called for maintaining discipline, urging one another to “leave the rucks alone” and “avoid penalties.”
Sanderson added, “The opportunity came up for Sam Bedlow, and he admits it’s his first jackal turnover that he’s ever had.”
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Sale Sharks have had a strong start to the season, securing two victories in as many weeks. Sanderson praised the nature of the team’s wins and their ability to persevere in challenging situations, describing these moments as “euphoric.” He stressed that their capacity to come through tough games is the most encouraging aspect of their performance.
The match saw Leicester’s Mike Brown opening the scoring with a try, but Sale responded with scores from Tom Roebuck and Ernst van Rhyn, leading 14-12 at half-time. Sale’s skipper, Rob du Preez, kicked a crucial penalty, but Ollie Hassell-Collins once again leveled the score for the Tigers. Ultimately, it was du Preez’s individual effort in the 69th minute that decided the contest in favor of Sale.
Leicester head coach, Dan McKellar, expressed his pride in the team’s effort and the physical response following their previous defeat to Bristol. However, he acknowledged that moments of substandard defense and pressure on their exits were areas that need improvement. While they demonstrated resilience, turning over a couple of kick-off receipts easily put them under pressure, and conceding early points after scoring was disappointing.
Sale Sharks’ victory exemplified their resilience and ability to maintain composure in challenging circumstances, leaving them poised for a promising season ahead.
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