Sale hold off Newcastle to go top of Premiership

Arron Reed's second try of the game secured a bonus point for Sale before half-time

Sale:(26) 40
Tries: Reed 2, B Curry, R du Preez, S James, Roebuck Cons: R du Preez 5
Newcastle:(10) 22
Tries: Brown, Chick, Byrne, Stephens Con: Thomas

Sale Sharks withstood a second-half fightback from winless Newcastle Falcons to register a victory that sent them top of the Premiership table.

Bryan Byrne and Iwan Stephens replied to move Newcastle within four points.

But Sam James and Tom Roebuck ended their hopes of victory, crossing after Falcons had been reduced to 14 men.

Newcastle remain bottom of the table and are the only top-flight side yet to win in the league this term, while a fifth victory in six matches moved Sale above previous leaders Harlequins, who host champions Saracens on Saturday.

More to follow.

Line-ups

Sale: Carpenter; Roebuck, S James, Bedlow, Reed; R du Preez, Warr; Rodd, Creevy, Harper, Wiese, Hill, van Rhyn, B Curry, JL du Preez.

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Harrison, Opoku-Fordjour, Bamber, Dugdale, Thomas, Curtis, Wills.

Newcastle: Redshaw; Brown, Kerr, Hutchinson, Stephens; Thomas, Elliott; Brantingham, B Byrne, McCallum, Cardall, McDonald, Hawkins, Pepper, Chick.

Replacements: Maddison, Brocklebank, Tampin, Kelly, Bainbridge, Barton, Johnson, Spencer.

Referee: Adam Leal

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