Sale Sharks 12-11 Harlequins – Sale edge out Quins to open Gallagher Premiership season with win

Sale fly-half George Ford kicked a perfect four penalties as The Sharks sneaked a narrow 12-11 victory against Harlequins on the opening weekend of the Gallagher Premiership season.

A game littered with errors in difficult conditions meant that Ford took the opportunity to kick to the posts with two efforts inside the opening 28 minutes.

Harlequins were more intent on scoring tries and kicked to touch before hooker Jack Walker crossed for what would turn out to be the game’s only try. On his Quins debut Leigh Halfpenny missed the subsequent conversion.

Harlequins thought they had a second try eight minutes after the break, but in a pivotal moment Jack Kenningham could not be seen touching the ball down amid a ruck of bodies.

Former Scarlets full-back Halfpenny put Quins ahead with a 70th minute penalty, only for Ford to kick the winning points four minutes later.

Quins were left reflecting on a missed opportunity as they had the chances to take an opening-weekend win. However, Sale also commented that they will need to cut out mistakes moving forward, which allowed the visitors to stay in the match.

“A win is a win but our 22-metre conversion needs to be better against Saracens next week,” said Sale loose-head prop Bevan Rodd.

“Little things like knock-ons, scrum penalties, breakdown penalties off our feet. Silly errors that made Quins get back into the game.”

After a strong end to last season to earn a play-off position Sale opened their account for the season with a battling display.

The kicking and points of Ford were again pivotal to their success. However, the grit and determination of loose-head prop Rudd mirrored the character of his side to dig in during difficult conditions and to earn Ford scoring opportunities.

All 12 of Sale’s points came from boot of fly-half Ford who looked composed in difficult conditions for kicking.

While his counterpart Halfpenny faltered on occasions, the consistency of Ford was crucial to Sale’s success.

Ford proved key in the forward play of his side with inch-perfect cross-field kicks which unlocked the visitors’ defence.

Sale Sharks: Rodd 8, Cowan-Dickie 7, Opoku-Fordjour 7, Van Rhyn 7, Andrews 6, T Curry 7, B Curry 7, J Du Preez 6, Warr 6, Ford 8, O’Flaherty 6, R Du Preez 6, Vuidravuwalu 7, Roebuck 7, Carpenter 6. Replacements: Caine 6, Onasanya 6, Harper 6, Beaumont 6, Bamber 6, Dugdale 7, Thomas 6, Addison 6

Harlequins: Baxter 6, Walker 7, Lamositele 6, Herbst 6, Lewies 6, Kenningham 7, W Evans 8, Dombrandt 6, Porter 6, J Evans 6, Beard 7, Anyanwu 6, Northmore 6, David 6, Halfpenny 7. Replacements: Jibulu 6, Els 6, Kerrod 6, Launchbury 6, Lamb 6, Care 6, Smith 7, Cleaves 6

17 – PENALTY! SALE SHARKS (FORD) 3-0 HARLEQUINS: An infringement was awarded against tight-head prop Lamositele in the scrum. That allowed Ford a simple kick under the posts to put the hosts ahead.

26 – PENALTY! SALE SHARKS (FORD) 6-0 HARLEQUINS: Will Evans comes into the tackle in an off-side position allowing Ford the opportunity to kick his side into a six-point lead. It wasn’t too convincing but the ball does just about float between the sticks.

32 – TRY! SALE SHARKS 6-5 HARLEQUINS (WALKER): Scrum penalty against Rodd results in Quins having the chance to kick for posts. However, they kick for touch and then a resulting drive results in Walker crossing the whitewash. On his debut Halfpenny has a difficult conversion which he shanks well wide.

39 – PENALTY! SALE SHARKS 6-8 HARLEQUINS (HALFPENNY): Rodd concedes infringement in the tackle in front of the posts. Halfpenny after missing the previous conversion does send this one over, despite shaking his head.

40 – PENALTY! SALE SHARKS (FORD) 9-8 HARLEQUINS: Straight from the re-start Quins concede a penalty within kicking distance and Ford sends his effort down the middle.

70 – PENALTY! SALE SHARKS 9-11 HARLEQUINS (HALFPENNY): The referee awards a penalty against Sale for failing to play the ball in the tackle. Halfpenny’s long-range effort just about makes the posts to give his side the lead.

74 – PENALTY! SALE SHARKS (FORD) 12-11 HARLEQUINS: Ford kicks his fourth perfect penalty after taking the tee from distance and his effort sails over the posts.

• Harlequins conceded 12 penalties to Sale’s 11.

• Sale Sharks made nine entries into the Harlequins 22 without scoring a try.