- Gloucester 19-22 Sale
- Beaumont marks return from 14-month injury with decisive try
Josh Beaumont marked his return from a 14-month injury lay-off with the decisive try two minutes from time to give Sale a welcome first win since Steve Diamond’s departure. Beaumont had not featured for the Sharks since November 2019 due to a long-term knee problem but he came off the bench to provide the decisive intervention, stretching over a pile of bodies to score late on. It was a sight to warm Sale hearts – none more so than interim head coach Paul Deacon’s, who finally has a win to his name.
It was a fiery contest, terribly tense throughout the second half, as demonstrated by the fight that broke out in the final minute and led to a yellow card for Billy Twelvetrees for clashing with a Sale water carrier. The Gloucester head coach, George Skivington, was unimpressed with the member of Sale’s backroom staff in question for preventing Twelvetrees getting to the ball to take a quick lineout, with the centre sent to the sin-bin for taking matters into his own hands. That sparked a melee between both sets of players which could have further repercussions, and the same could be said of Daniel du Preez’s tackle on Chris Harris five minutes from time which left the Gloucester player needing a HIA. Skivington was similarly unhappy about that, as well as a late scrum call against his side.
Written by Gerard Meagher
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jan/02/gloucester-sale-premiership-match-report under the title “
“. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.