Sale Sharks vs. Cardiff Blues. European Challenge Cup

Will Cliff and Mark Jones have made the second half, trying to increase the popularity of Sale.

Sale Sharks vs. Cardiff Blues

Although Sharks won in this game, which is their fifth victory in the previous six games, they still remain on the third position in group 2 with only two points distance from Cardiff and Toulouse, which is the second, in their European campaign that is on the halfway now.

And thanks to the way the party played and operated  the test conditions, this success will provide Steve Diamond, the head of Sharks, and his coaching staff with a difficult choice before the next trip in ​​ Sunday to the Arms Park where there will be a decisive game.

Salford met the teams with sleet and snow on start, so it was not a surprise to see a set of mistakes at early stages.

Sharks began to score on the 2nd minute and MacGuinty has again shown the faultless precision with the boot.

However, chances were above par, considering test conditions, at the same time the most part of thegame was limited to a 20-meter zone on both sides from a halfway line.
Cardiff has created the first opening on the 15th minutes from the sliding fist, but Gareth Ainscombe’s kick was too strong.

Sales have reacted with an awesome counterattack when the dexterous scoop of MacGuinty fed Rohan Janse van Rensburg.

He has charged forward and after that passed to Mark Jennings. Owen Lane from Blues has stopped the man of Sharks just short of the line.

Sales have really added to their scoring on the 23rd minute when MacGinty has added the second penalty in the half, and Cardiff has tried to create the first attempt to score when Will Cliff’s chip put them on the back-foot.

Denny Solomon was the first to reach the ball with one of the forwards Josh Charnley, but this time the accuracy failed, as he has put on the ball into touch but not the line of Cardiff.

Nevertheless, at once MacGuinty's moved the Sharks forward thanks to the third penalty of day.

Sharks was left on the front-foot after the restart, and MacGuinty has made the fourth penalty on the 45th minute.

Excellent Win against Group Leaders - Cardiff Blues

MacGintyhas enjoyed a fine comprehensive game and earned a five-meter penalty, but the Sharks couldn't force imperceptible break.

Pressure upon Sale had to affect, and the long-awaited first attempt, at last, has arrived on the 58 minutes.

Cliff has brilliantly scored and subsequent MacGinty performance gave the Sharks 19-0. This was a real reward for the Sharks’ for their dominating play.

However, it is worth telling that the Blues continued to battle, but the Sharks performed all the basics very well despite winter conditions, Cardiff faced only a dominating wall of white blocks.

Sequence of points  scoring: 3-0, 6-0, 9-0, 12-0, 17-0, 19-0, 24-0

Sale: Haley; Solomona, Jennings, Van Rensburg, Charnley; MacGinty, Cliff; Harrison, Jones, John, Nott, Ostrikov, Neild, Curry, Ross (capt.).

Replacements: Webber, Flynn, Tarus, Postlethwaite, Seymour, De Klerk, James, O'Connor.

Cardiff: Morgan; Lane, Smith, Lee-lo, Summerhill; Anscombe, L. Williams; Thyer, Rees (capt.), Peikrishvili, Earle, Down, Davies, Turnbull, N. Williams.


Replacements: Myhill, Domachowski, Assiratti, Welch, Bennett, T. Williams, Evans, Scully.

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