Gallagher Premiership
Sale (20) 41
Tries: D du Preez, McElroy, Hill, Ma’asi-White, Quirke Cons: Ford 5 Pens: Ford 2
Bristol (5) 27
Tries: Randall, Mata, Naulago, Byrne, Ravouvou Con: Williams
Sale Sharks moved a step closer towards securing a Premiership play-off spot with a bonus-point victory over top-four rivals Bristol Bears.
Sale move up to third, one point ahead of fourth-placed Bristol, both with one game left to play on 31 May.
A bonus-point victory in Sale’s final match away to lowly Exeter Chiefs would secure a play-off spot for a third consecutive season.
George Ford contributed 16 points and a 100% success rate with the boot for the hosts, while there were five different try scorers in Dan du Preez, Tadgh McElroy, Jonny Hill, Rekeiti Ma’asi-White and Raffi Quirke.
Bristol had looked well beaten, but they produced a strong late rally to come away with a bonus point themselves as they ran in five tries.
Harry Randall crossed in the first half, then Viliame Mata, Siva Naulago and crucially Harry Byrne and Kalaveti Ravouvou in the last three minutes.
Bristol remain fourth but they could be overtaken if Saracens win at Northampton Saints on Saturday.
More to follow.
Sale: Carpenter; Roebuck, R du Preez, Ma’asi-White, O’Flaherty; Ford, Warr; Rodd, McElroy, Opoku-Fordjour, van Rhyn, Hill, JL du Preez, B Curry, D du Preez.
Replacements: Longstaff, McIntyre, John, Bamber, Dugdale, Quirke, Bedlow, Wills.
Bristol: Lane, Ravouvou, Janse van Rensburg, Williams, Ibitoye; MacGinty, Randall; Woolmore, Oghre, Kloska, Caulfield, Batley, Grondona, Harding, Mata.
Replacements: Capon, Genge, Lahiff, Dun, Owen, Marmion, Byrne, Naulago.
Referee: Adam Leal
