Much good it will do them now, but here was a return to form for Bath at the end of a season notable for almost a complete lack of it. Sale, meanwhile, who do have something to play for, well in the hunt for Europe, were abject in a first half that cost them dearly. Nevertheless, a last-gasp try by Johnny Leota, his second, yielded them two bonus points, which lifts them above Northampton into fifth. It was a suitably rousing finish to a fine match, albeit not one whose result ever hung in the balance, bar a few minutes in the third quarter, when Sale pulled themselves back to within three points after their first half horribilis.
That should not detract from a fine Bath display. The carrying had bite, George Ford buzzed like a menacing wasp behind the collisions and the ball found its way into the hands of the home team’s wide runners with pleasing regularity. If England have their eyes on Neal Hatley as scrum coach, here was further cause for interest. Poor Ross Harrison, the Sale loosehead, was off before half-time, by which point he had been penalised three times. The first half was pretty much a horror story for a team who are supposed to be after a place in Europe.
Bath could have put the game to bed by the break had they not spilled the ball so regularly. As it was, they were 17-0 up after 15 minutes but failed to add to their tally before half-time. The first try arrived in the second minute and was a model for how they intended to play. Dave Denton made a couple of dents on the wide outside, Rhys Priestland made another and when Ford slipped the ball to Ollie Devoto, the rangy centre stepped past Tommy Taylor and Peter Stringer to the line.
Try No2 followed from a free-kick at a scrum (Harrison again). Leroy Houston hit it up and Charlie Ewels was driven over by Rob Webber. A Ford penalty three minutes later put Sale further behind. They had barely touched the ball and on the few occasions they managed to from then on they tended to drop it.
Steve Diamond, Sale’s director of rugby, has not built his reputation on a gentle, understanding nature. Something he said in the sheds – and/or the way he said it – had the desired effect. Within eight minutes of the resumption, Sale had scored two tries, when first Johnny Leota then Andrei Ostrikov were driven over from lineouts. Sale were transformed, three points behind; Bath minds were turning to the wobbles that have blighted their season. Now it was Danny Cipriani looking the menace, and Sale’s passes were sticking.
But game-chasing is a precarious pursuit. A brilliant Devoto break and less brilliant failure to pass to Matt Banahan outside him nevertheless set up Ford for his second penalty, before a brilliant Semesa Rokoduguni break set up the position from which he later scored off Ford’s cut-out pass. With breathing space established, the bonus-point try was scored with seven minutes remaining, a dazzling blindside break by Will Homer, brother of Tom.
But Sale kept coming, even though the game had gone. TJ Ioane was driven over from a lineout before Leota grounded his second against the base of the post. Sale celebrated as if they had qualified for Europe. They may just do that.
