Sale Sharks 27-47 Glasgow Warriors

Tries from Kyle Steyn, Jamie Dobie, Rory Darge, Alex Craig, Ollie Smith Tavi Tuipulotu, in addition to a penalty try, ensured that the maximum haul of points would be heading back north with Franco Smith’s squad.

On a perfect afternoon for rugby, the hosts were the first to strike. An early venture into the Glasgow 22 saw a clever lineout move allow Ben Curry to race over on a back peel, George Ford converting for a 7-0 lead after just three minutes.

More was to follow from the Sharks inside the opening 10 minutes, making the most of their early territory and possession. Ford was conducting play in midfield, the fly-half’s half-break setting up field position for the home side. When the ball was recycled, Arron Reed was on hand to dive over as Sale worked a three-on-two overlap to perfection, the conversion drifting wide to leave the scoreline reading 12-0.

Sparked into life by the concession of the two early scores, the Warriors wasted little time in hitting back with practically their first entry into the Sale 22. A monumental carry from Sione Tuipulotu saw Sale transgress at the ruck, Dan Lancaster directing play into the corner. From there, the maul proved too powerful for the home side to stop legally, referee Craig Evans awarding a penalty try and sending Gus Warr to the sin bin for good measure.

Tom Roebuck would follow Warr to the sidelines moments later after illegally taking out Steyn in a foot race, with Glasgow making their numerical advantage count as the opening quarter drew to a close. An invitation to exploit the gaps in the backline was one that Dobie was all too happy to accept, the winger hitting the afterburners before sending Steyn over untouched. Horne converted, and Glasgow led 14-12.

That would be the final act of scoring from the Warriors during the sin bin period, although not for the lack of trying from the visitors. Instead, a long-range penalty from Ford edged Sale back in front with 26 minutes played as Warr and Roebuck returned to the field.

Undeterred, Glasgow struck for their third try of the opening stanza as the clock ticked past the half-hour mark. A strong carry from Ruwald van der Merwe set up the platform, before Steyn’s arcing run saw the captain act as the extra man and spin the pass wide for Dobie. The winger rode the challenge of the Sale cover defence to dive acrobatically over in the corner, Horne converting expertly from the touchline for a 21-15 lead.

An increasingly closely-fought encounter then saw both sides denied by the Television Match Official, as Warr and Seb Stephen traded disallowed tries in the Manchester sunshine. It would remain 21-15 until the interval, a 53-metre penalty from Ford sailing wide with the last kick of the half.

Intent on consolidating their advantage, the first score after the restart would come from Glasgow hands. Dan Lancaster’s clever inside ball allowed Rory Darge to make the incision, Horne and Zander Fagerson carrying on the momentum inside Sale territory. In the end, it was Craig who barged over for his first try in Glasgow colours, Horne converting to make it an 11-point ball-game.

Knowing the next score would be crucial, Sale rallied as their home supporters urged them forward. A monster of a hit from Craig on his own goal-line would deny Courtney Lawes from close range, but there was no stopping the Sharks on the stroke of the hour mark. A searing break from Reed provided the platform in Glasgow’s 22, and with Glasgow’s scramble defence in full action, Ford’s delayed pass sent Reketi Ma’asi-White over next to the posts. The conversion was straightforward for a kicker of Ford’s calibre, narrowing the deficit to four points.

Glasgow responded in kind just moments later. Tavi Tuipulotu’s first throw on his senior debut found Scott Cummings, and once more the maul proved too powerful for the hosts to stop. Darge emerged with the ball in hand for his second try in as many matches, Horne restoring Glasgow’s 11-point advantage.

An end-to-end encounter showed no signs of stopping, as Sale struck back with 12 minutes to play. A sublime offload from Joe Carpenter gave Reed the space and time he needed to sprint over in the corner, the conversion pulled wide to leave the scoreline reading 33-27 to Glasgow as the match entered its closing stages.

Yet the final words belonged to Glasgow, the Warriors closing out the match in clinical fashion. First, Jare Oguntibeju’s barrage of carries allowed the Tuipulotu combines, Sione breaking the line and offloading to Smith on his shoulder. The replacement needed no second invitation to dive over the line, Horne adding the extras to seal the result.

There was even time for a late score to put the gloss on the result, as Tavi Tuipulotu marked his debut in style. The hooker found his man at the lineout with pinpoint precision, tucking himself away at the back of the maul to touch down for the score. Lancaster – having assumed kicking duties from Horne – was on target from the tee, and one final defensive salvo put the seal on a 47-27 victory for the Scotstoun side, kicking off the Investec Champions Cup in the ideal fashion.