Sale batter Harlequins in a dominant second half display
For Sale and their director of rugby, Alex Sanderson, a bonus-point victory with seven tries was a dream come true. But for Harlequins, the season's misery continued as they capitulated in the second half, conceding 31 unanswered points after leading 17-12 at halftime.
Sanderson's side had been on a losing streak, losing four consecutive games and slipping in the playoff race. The pressure was mounting, and the team's owners, Simon and Michelle Orange, delivered a clear message: raise your game. The players and staff responded, and Sale's performance was a testament to their newfound focus.
Harlequins, on the other hand, saw their playoff hopes all but dashed, even at the halfway point of the season. Their senior coach, Jason Gilmore, was concerned about the team's collapse after the break, conceding five tries in the second half as Sale dominated on a cold night in Salford.
The game started with a shock as Harlequins took the lead within three minutes. Rodrigo Isgró was denied by Tom Curry, but the visitors quickly seized possession and Marcus Smith scored under the posts. Smith's conversion gave Harlequins an early lead.
However, Sale responded with a slick try from Alex Wills, their homegrown wing, in the eighth minute. The hosts' pressure paid off when Ford found Rob du Preez, who offloaded to Wills for a try in the left corner. Ford missed the conversion, but Sale's performance was increasingly impressive.
The momentum shifted again when Sale scored their second try in the 18th minute. Luke Cowan-Dickie, an England and Lions hooker, went over from close range, and George Ford's conversion put Sale ahead 12-10. Harlequins' lead was short-lived, as Jack Walker's close-range effort and Smith's conversion gave them a 17-12 halftime lead.
The second half was a one-sided affair, with Sale dominating from the start. Jacques Vermeulen, the flanker, produced two smart finishes to secure the bonus point. Sale's self-belief grew as they began to move through the gears in devastating fashion.
Centre Rekeiti Ma’asi-White finished off some delightful handling for their fifth try, and scrum-half Raffi Quirke pounced on an error from Smith to score Sale's sixth. The Sharks celebrated their return to winning ways in style, with replacement hooker Nathan Jibulu crashing over from close range.
