RUGBY Live

Finished

Logo 36 - Logo 14

Bath Rugby

Sale Sharks

No comments yet | Write your comment

  1. Bath tame Sharks

    Bath tame Sharks

    Bath are just one game away from their first trophy in 10 years after they defeated Sale Sharks 36-14 at the Rec in their European Challenge Cup semi-final. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:80'
    • Bath Rugby
    • Sale Sharks
    • FT So thanks for joining us for our coverage - Bath on course for their first trophy in 10 years. Join us for the Heineken Cup semi-final at 15.00.
    • 80 Some handbags at the end of the match but the referee has blown for time a deserved win for Bath.
    • 79' Little concern for Bath - it looks like Olly Barkley has taken a knock - he is limping.
    • 78' Matt Stevens has been awarded man of the match - I think Michael Claassens had strong claims for the award too - but Stevens has been involved in a number of the break today.
    • 74' Sale pressing at the moment but both teams know that this match is now over as a contest.
    • 70' It really should have been another try for Bath but an overhit pass from Butch James with three men to his right sees the ball find touch.
    • 68' Hodgson has gone off battered and bruised - with now back on the bench Cockbain has to come on.
    • 66' BATH WILL PLAY WORCESTER IN THE FINAL - Great little chip from James is finished off by Matt Banahan in the corner. The attack was set-up when Higgins was in a sprint mis-match with Hodgson.
    • 64' Sale are starting to throw the ball around a bit now in a bid to get things going but Bath continue to defend well.
    • 62' Another superb counter-attack from Bath with Abendanon leading the charge before Charlie Hodgson makes a great tackle although he seemed to hurt himself in the process. Chris Bell also picked up a knock in the movement.
    • 58' And HIGGINS GETS THE TRY THAT COULD SEAL THE WIN - A drop from McAlister in midfield and Lipman just sticks a boot in the clear and Higgins outsprints Hodgson to get the try. Barkley kicks the conversion.
    • 56 Sale have now made five changes and it is understandable because it is a very hot day out there today.
    • 52' Both teams starting to change things now - but the score remains the same - you get the feeling that Bath could just pull away though if they get the next score.
    • 50 Great tackling from the Sale defence as Bath look to penetrate inside the 22. They were not tackling like that in the early stages of the match.
    • 47 Well we had all our scores in the first 23 minutes - we have now gone LONGER than 23 minutes without a score - strange game.
    • 45' Great pass from Hodgson nearly puts Foden away but then the full-back's attempted pass goes astray. Sale's spell of pressure ends without any points as Bath turn it over and use their front row to move to halfway.
    • 44 Blow for Sale as Sheridan is forced off and Faure comes on.
    • 43 Sale doing the early pressing the this half but they are not finding the type of gaps that Bath have or moving the ball as quick and as a result they are stuck between the 22 and halfway.
    • 41 Second half is now underway...
    • HT So a barnstorming first-half and still all to play for.
    • 40 Banahan comes storming down the left win and Foden has to take a big hit to make the tackle. Bath try to work it over the other side but the referee blows for half-time as the ball comes loose.
    • 39 Another MONSTER penalty attempt from McAlister but that one was a little beyond even him. He had the direction alright but it came up just short.
    • 36 Stunning break from McAlister turns defence into attack for Sale but he delays a handoff to Laharrague on the wing a little too long and Higgins is able to get back to make a fine tackle. Soon after Bath clear the danger.
    • 33 Bath edge into the Sale 22 once again - but James then overcooks a little chip over the defence and Sale survive.
    • 31 A scrappy passage of play amongst the forwards in midfield gives everybody a well earned breather. Meanwhile, spotted in the crowd is new England manager Martin Johnson - he is sure to have been impressed by the expansive rugby on show. Maybe less so about the tackling though.
    • 27' For once a Bath attack fails to yield a score as Butch James overthrows a pass into touch - but the hosts are really moving the ball around with some style today.
    • 23 Well this is a real end-to-end humdinger - Grewcock goes over for Bath's third try of the match. A break from Claassens proved to be key but only before a cross field kick from James to Banahan set up the attack. Another nice conversion from Barkley too - and he is kicking the ball very well today.
    • 20 The gap is now just three - Sale get a penalty near midfield and given the distance - McAlister takes the kick duties from Hodgson and fires home a superb penalty.
    • 18 Steve Borthwick is told to have a talk with his players before the penalty. The Bath players are all behind the posts. Hodgson then asks the ref if he can take the kick - the referee says yes so he kicks it into the corner and Chris Mayor is there for a controversial try. No conversion though 17-11.
    • 16 Sean Cox finds a big gap and puts McAlister away he looks like he is going to score a try but is stopped just short of the line. And a penalty is given.
    • 13 Bath are caught offside after a poor kick from Butch James got them into trouble - easy kick over the post from Hodgson - 17-6.
    • 10 They can - Michael Lipman finds a gap as Bath move the ball from left to right and Oiriol Ripol was caught in two minds as to whether to go for the tackle or cover the wing which allowed the flanker to sneak in. FANTASTIC conversion from out on the right from Barkley.
    • 9 Bath keeping the ball in hand and they have moved all the way into the Sale 22 with some lovely rugby - can they find a gap though?
    • 8 A fine start Bath continues as Sale give away a penalty just right of centre about 40m out and Barkley confidently kicks over to extend the lead.
    • 4' Great response from Bath - Hodgson sees a kick charged down at the 22 and Michael Claassens takes advantage of a nice bounce to dive over the line - converted by Barkley too.
    • 2 Sale move into the Bath 22 quickly and look to get a score on the board early as Charlie Hodgson tries a drop goal and it goes over - 3-0 to Sale.
    • 1' And we are underway....
    • - As you can see from the line-ups below - Bath have named their strongest available side but Sale are without their entire first choice back row of Jason White, Magnus Lund and Sebastien Chabel. They are also without Mark Cueto and Lee Thomas.
    • - Greetings and welcome to LIVE coverage of this European Challenge Cup semi-final between Bath and Sale.

  • Summary

    Bath Rugby versus Sale Sharks
    Claassens 4’, Lipman 10’, Grewcock 23’, Higgins 58’, Banahan 67’ Tries Mayor 18’
    Barkley 4’, 11’, 23’, 58’ Conversions  
    Barkley 8’ Penalties Hodgson 13’, McAlister 20’
      Drops Hodgson 2’

Live Team Line-Up

  • Bath Rugby

    Manager: Steve Meehan

    On the Field

    • Barnes
    • Mears Substitution Out (66′)
    • Stevens Substitution Out (66′)
    • Borthwick
    • Grewcock Try Substitution Out (66′)
    • Jonny
    • Lipman Try
    • Goodman Substitution Out (50′)
    • Claassens Try
    • James
    • Banahan Try
    • Barkley
    • Crockett Substitution Out (66′)
    • Higgins Try
    • Abendanon

    Subs

    • Berne
    • Short Substitution In (66′)
    • Dixon Substitution In (66′)
    • Cheeseman Substitution In (66′)
    • Feau'nati
    • Baxter
    • Bell Substitution In (66′)

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

  • Sale Sharks

    Manager: Philippe Saint-André

    On the Field

    • Sheridan Substitution Out (43′)
    • Bruno Substitution Out (56′)
    • Turner Substitution Out (0′)
    • Fernandez Lobbe Substitution Out (48′)
    • Schofield
    • Cox
    • Jones
    • Fernandez Lobbe
    • Wigglesworth
    • Hodgson
    • Ripol Substitution Out (45′)
    • McAlister
    • Bell Substitution Out (18′)
    • Mayor Try
    • Foden

    Subs

    • Cockbain
    • Laharrague Substitution In (18′)
    • Roberts Substitution In (50′)
    • Faure Substitution In (43′)
    • Briggs Substitution In (56′)
    • Hills Substitution Out (48′)
    • Cliff Substitution In (45′)

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account