Bury St Edmunds 15–45 Sale FC

Half-time: Bury St Edmunds 10–14 Sale FC
Full-time: Bury St Edmunds 15–45 Sale FC
Star Man: Hobie Riches (Bury St Edmunds)
Attendance: 623
Referee: George Onsley

Match Report

Sale kicked off, quickly regained possession and pretty much kept it for much of the opening half. To their credit, Bury played exceptionally well without the ball and thwarted the visitors time and again.

Sale's opening score inevitably followed an unforced Bury error, with Osian Roberts showing his pace to cross for the try. James Mitchell converted.

Despite the Sale onslaught, Bury responded through Matt Hema to keep themselves firmly in the contest.

Almost straight from the restart, Sale again displayed their skill and pace, with a chip and chase allowing Owain Williams to score. Mitchell added the conversion.

Bury weren't going away, however, and Euan Rees hit back following an industrious phase of play, with Ben Penfold converting to bring the hosts back within four points.

Sale continued to attack in waves, but some superb Bury defence kept them out. A Bury turnover brought an end to the opening 40 minutes with the contest still finely poised.

Half-time: Bury St Edmunds 10–14 Sale FC

With the wind at their backs and Bury very much still in the fight, the home crowd hoped for a more attacking approach from their side after the break.

Unfortunately, Bury were undone by the skill, pace and power of the visitors, coupled with a number of unforced errors and defensive system failures.

Dom Hanson seized on a dropped ball and sprinted away to score before Jos Gilmore did likewise, his break eventually resulting in a penalty try.

Bury St Edmunds 10–28 Sale FC

As the game began to slip away from Bury, Sale were quick to exploit defensive gaps and indiscipline. Oliver Longmore scored from a catch and drive before, from the restart, Roberts raced away to score his second of the afternoon. James Robins converted.

Bury St Edmunds 10–40 Sale FC

Another unfortunate Bury error presented Sale with another opportunity, and the visitors broke away for Williams to score his second try of the afternoon.

Bury continued to battle and eventually put together a clinical attack of their own, with captain George Grigg-Pettitt racing to the line for the hosts' third try. The conversion was missed.

Bury St Edmunds 15–45 Sale FC

The match ended with a penalty to Sale, underlining what had been a particularly frustrating afternoon for the Wolfpack.

Full-time: Bury St Edmunds 15–45 Sale FC

Bury DoR James Shanahan expressed his disappointment at the critical errors and defensive mishaps from his players, but was quick to recognise the defensive effort, particularly during the first half.

He noted that at this level any error will be ruthlessly punished, and that proved to be the theme of the afternoon.

After three matches, Sale have demonstrated their credentials as a side likely to be in the promotion conversation come April.

Bury St Edmunds

Rees, Loose, Hema, Kharbouch, Andrew, Penfold, Coetzee, Robinson, Hicks, Cilia, Russell, Sams, Grigg-Pettitt, Riches, R. Williams.

Replacements: Walliker, Cooper, Hill, Reid, Bedford.

Sale FC

Dixon, O. Williams, Roberts, Mulchrone, Walsh, Mitchell, Hanson, Birchall, Austin, Raymont, Vickers, Mintern, Gilmore, Bennett, Hughes.

Replacements: Longmore, Thompson, Asatiani, Robins, Bradley.

Scorers

Bury St Edmunds
Tries: Hema (29), Rees (36), Grigg-Pettitt (79)
Conversions: Penfold (37)

Sale FC
Tries: Roberts (10, 63), Williams (31, 70), Hanson (43), Longmore (61)
Penalty try: 52
Conversions: Mitchell (11, 32, 44), Robins (64)

Photo Credit: BeanstalkMedia

Full Match Gallery From Beanstalk Media available here.