Gaskell inspires Sale

James Gaskell © Gallo Images

James Gaskell further enhanced his fast-growing reputation with a virtuoso performance to help Sale to a famous Heineken Cup victory over Pool Five rivals Cardiff.

The 19-year-old lock from Sandbach, who stands 6ft 7in, created a try for skipper Dean Schofield in the 37th minute with a fine run and then went over himself shortly after the restart as Sale responded in style to last week's thumping defeat in Toulouse.

Fijian flanker Sisa Koyamaibole got the ball rolling with their first try in the 33rd minute before Gaskell seized centre stage to illuminate an impressive performance from Kingsley Jones' men.

Cardiff, who won their opening match against Harlequins last weekend, hit back through Andy Powell in the 50th minute and Robin Sowden-Taylor then pounced on a loose ball to claim their second try in the 79th minute.

Ben Blair converted to cut the gap to one point, but Sale held on to keep alive their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages.

The early exchanges were all about Cardiff and two penalties from Blair put them 6-0 ahead by the 11th minute before he spurned the opportunity to claim his third moments later.

Yet there was no denying the Blues' early vibrancy and they almost exposed Sale down the right flank in the 15th minute.

Fa'ao Filise charged down a Sale kick and the ball was gratefully scooped up by Tom Shanklin, who looked a decent bet to reach the try-line only to be given offside.

Sale breathed a massive sigh of relief but former Cardiff centre Lee Thomas was off target with the resultant penalty.

Charlie Hodgson, whose influence grew as the first half wore on, got Sale off the mark with a penalty in the 25th minute before Leigh Halfpenny put one wide from distance for Cardiff three minutes later.

Almost immediately, however, the Wales international found his range with a superbly-struck penalty to put Cardiff 9-3 ahead.

Eight minutes before the break, however, Hodgson embarked on a delightful weaving run and almost pirouetted his way through the Blues' defence.

His progress was halted but Sale kept the ball alive and Koyamaibole touched down in the right corner for a try awarded after long deliberation by the video referee.

The announcement that the try had been given was rapturously received by the home supporters and Hodgson showed precision with the boot to add the conversion from a difficult angle.

Things got even better for Sale and worse for Cardiff six minutes before the break when Powell was sent to the sin bin for a late challenge.

Leading 10-9, the pendulum had swung in Sale's favour and they capitalised in style in the 37th minute when Gaskell showed impressive pace to evade a clutch of Cardiff defenders and Schofield arrived in support to burst over the line.

Hodgson added the extras and three minutes after the restart Koyamaibole's neat short offload ushered the willing Gaskell over from close range.

Hodgson added his third conversion but Cardiff soon hauled themselves back into the game in the 50th minute when Powell burrowed his way over and Blair converted.

Hodgson hit the post with a penalty on the hour mark as Sale were denied further breathing space but after Blair landed his third penalty, Hodgson slotted a clever drop-goal to put his side 27-19 in front.

Sale then lost Lions prop Andrew Sheridan to injury in the 77th minute and were left stunned two minutes later when Sowden-Taylor pounced on an errant throw from the line-out to touch down and Blair converted.
Read more on the Heineken Cup page.

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