Northampton go top after comeback win over Sale

4 months ago 107

Alex Mitchell went over to boost his Six Nations hopes

Northampton: (0) 21
Tries: Furbank, Mitchell, Penalty Cons: Smith 2
Sale: (7) 17
Tries: Carpenter, Cowan-Dickie Cons: Ford 2 Drop-goal: Ford

Northampton Saints went top of the Premiership after fighting back to beat Sale Sharks at Franklin's Gardens.

Both sides cancelled each other out in a dour first half, played in wet and gusty conditions, with Joe Carpenter's score giving Sale a 7-0 half-time lead.

Luke Cowan-Dickie powered over to make it 14-0, but Saints hit back through George Furbank only for George Ford's drop goal to make it 17-7.

Alex Mitchell's try cut the gap before a penalty try sealed victory.

More to follow.

Northampton: Furbank (capt), Freeman, Odendaal, Hutchinson, Sleightholme, Smith, Mitchell; Waller, Matavesi, Davison, Munga, Coles, Scott-Young, Pearson, Augustus.

Replacements: Langdon, Haffar, Hill, Moon, Lawes, Graham, Braley, Litchfield.

Sale: Carpenter, Roebuck, James, Rob du Preez, Reed, Ford, Warr; Harrison, Cowan-Dickie, Schonert, Wiese, Hill, van Rhyn, Curry (capt), Jean-Luc du Preez.

Replacements: Taylor, Onasanya, Opoku-Fordjour, Beaumont, Dugdale, Thomas, James, Veainu.

Sin-bin: Opoku-Fordjour (69).

Referee: Matthew Carley

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