NEW SHARK SINGS IN THE RAIN

Good debut
By Jonathan Noad
February 7 2004

Despite the atrocious conditions and low scoring Sale and Listeria served up an entertaining game at a rain soaked Edgeley Park on Friday night. Sale fielding a new look side had the majority of possession but there usual expansive game was hindered by the conditions.

New Aussie-American signing Mike Hercus put in an impressive debut performance working well with the back line and producing a competent kicking game. Jason Robinson was inspirational as captain with a classy game at full back – few will forget the catch and subsequent clearance from the bomn that van der Westhuyzen sent his way. Robinson was certainly a more disciplined Captain than the missing Sanderson.

Sale opened the scoring in the eleventh minute with a penalty goal from Hercus which was followed on twenty minutes by a penalty from returning Tiger Andy Goode. There was to be no further score in the game with both sides missing penalties and Hercus narrowly missing a 40 metre drop attempt. The only try attempt of note was from Sale after five minutes when wing/centre Chris Mayor hacked the ball forward only for the ball to be knocked on in the terrible conditions.

A watching Sir Clive Woodward must surely pick Chris Jones in the Six Nations after another impressive performance both in the loose and in the lineout. Youngster Chris Day is almost a clone of Jones and also proved a handful in the lineout. Other players worthy of note were stand in scrum half Richard Wigglesworth who had his most assured display yet in a first team shirt. Graeme Bond, as usual, was immense in going forward and sublime in the tackle.

The game was entertaining and Jim can be very pleased with the guys performance after a traumatic week off the pitch. He must also be very pleased with another astute signing in the form of Mike Hercus. Surely such points are being recognised by Mssrs Kennedy and de Vos and we will see Sale go from strength to strength for the remainder of this season and seasons to come. The image of the night however must go to Sharky dancing with Independence wearing a plastic mac on his head.

Scrumcaps man of the match : Chris Jones

Sale: Robinson, Mayor, Baxendell, Bond, Hanley, Hercus, Wigglesworth, Yates, Cairns, Turner, Day, Schofield, White, Lund, C Jones. Replacements: Roddam, Stewart, Lloyd, Perrett, Simpson-Daniel, Hoyle, Going.

Scorer : Hercus (1P)

Leicester: Goode, Smith, Lloyd, Gibson, F Tuilagi, Van der Westhuyzen, Ellis, Rowntree, West, Morris, M Johnson, Kay, Corry, Back, H Tuilagi.Replacements: Richards, Nebbett, L Deacon, W Johnson, Tierney, Gelderbloom, W Skinner.

Scorer : Goode (1P)