“Sale Sharks Seal Last-Minute Victory with George Ford’s Heroic Penalty Kick!” 🏉🔥
“Sale Sharks Seal Last-Minute Victory with George Ford’s Heroic Penalty Kick!” 🏉🔥
George Ford sinks Bath as Sale extend lead at the top with tense win
George Ford kicked a late penalty as Sale extended their lead at the top of the Premiership to five points with an 11-9 win against Bath. The England international landed a mid-range penalty with seven minutes to go as the Sharks eventually broke down a stubborn Bath side to secure their sixth win of the season.
Jonny Hill scored the only try of a tight game at Salford Stadium, however three penalties from Finn Russell looked to have nicked the points for Bath in an attritional affair. The visitors’ defence almost did enough to earn what would have been a fine away win, with a superb 10-minute defensive stand inside their own 22 the highlight, before Ford stepped up to clinch victory for Sale.
“It’s one of a few times this season where we have had to find a way in the dying moments to win,” said Sale’s director of rugby, Alex Sanderson. “Sometimes it’s been through our defence, and tonight was our set-piece and kicking game. They are a resourceful bunch and it shows that we have multiple ways in which to take the game by the scruff of the neck and snatch a victory from the jaws of defeat.”
Bath started strongly and Sale’s lack of discipline led to conceding too many penalties, which Russell feasted on. The Scotland international was subdued with ball-in-hand on a night where kicking was king, but he was excellent from the tee and punished three Sale errors in the first half.
The hosts appeared to be winning the territory battle and made a crucial breakthrough after earning a penalty at the scrum and going for the corner. At the second lineout attempt, the maul was set and Hill broke off to power over the line, leaving Bath leading 9-5 at half-time.
Sale started the second half strongly with Gus Warr threading a smart kick behind the Bath defence and into touch. Luke Cowan-Dickie performed a jackal over the ball to win a penalty for not releasing and Ford stepped up to knock over the penalty kick – closing the gap to a single point.
Sale’s backs struggled to penetrate the visiting defence and they relied on Ford’s kicking game for territory. But Russell was equally street-smart and kept Bath out of harm’s way. Bath introduced a trio of internationals from the bench in hooker Tom Dunn, scrum half Ben Spencer and centre Cam Redpath in an attempt to swing the momentum back in their favour. But in the final few minutes, Ford stepped up and knocked over a 37m effort from just to the right of the uprights for Sale to go ahead and win on home ground.
Reflecting on Bath’s third defeat of the season, their director of rugby, Johann van Graan, said: “It came down to a scrum penalty call by an assistant referee so we will have a look at it. But I think it should be about our performance and I’m incredibly proud of the group.
“We came here to win, so to lose is disappointing. We stayed in the fight and it just shows there is massive belief and growth in the group, and I certainly think we got better this week.”
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