Sale Sharks stopped free-scoring Bristol in their tracks as they moved into the Gallagher Premiership play-off places with a stunning 38-0 victory at Ashton Gate. Bristol had high hopes of going top above west country rivals Bath, but Sale did not allow them any time or space on the ball and Bears’ trademark running game hit the buffers. Scrum-half Raffi Quirke set the tone when he breached Bristol‘s defence inside three minutes, and the Sharks never looked back.
Tom Roebuck added a second try before half-time, then captain Ben Curry’s interception score sealed the deal midway through the third quarter, before Roebuck’s fellow wing Tom O’Flaherty secured a bonus point 14 minutes from time. Centre Rob du Preez kicked three penalties and three conversions, while fly-half George Ford dropped a goal as Sale’s statement win served notice of their title credentials. Bristol had collected a try-scoring bonus point in each of their last nine league games, equalling the Premiership record.
Sale, in stark contrast, were without a point of any description on their Premiership travels this term, but those statistics were shredded on a spectacular night for Alex Sanderson’s team. England prop Ellis Genge withdrew from Bristol‘s starting line-up after suffering a back spasm, while it weas confirmed before kick-off that Bears fly-half AJ MacGinty faces four months out due to a knee injury. Sale produced a lightning start, rocking Bristol when Quirke made a blistering break f.
