A lacklustre Bristol Bears performance saw them fall to a 36-20 defeat to a powerful Sale Sharks side, all-but ending their hopes of a top four Premiership finish.
George Ford’s boot produced 14 points in the first half as a try from man-of-the match Ben Curry saw the visitors take a 19-13 lead at half-time despite a well-taken try from Siva Naulago that kept the hosts in touch.
An error-strewn game saw the Sharks strike next when Jean Luc du-Preez crossed shortly after the break, before Gus Warr added to another Ford penalty when his try late on put the visitors out of sight.
Gabriel Ibitoye’s late score was nothing more than a consolation as Bristol slumped to a 36-20 defeat in front of a subdued Ashton Gate crowd.
15. Charles Piutau - 6
Bristol’s full-back was the subject of some early aerial examination from Sale’s half-backs, but he was secure in the greasy conditions. Poor kick return from inside his own-22 was punished by Joe Carpenter’s returning 50:22. Without doubt the hosts’ biggest threat going forward, but the ball did not find his hands enough for him to make any more than 23 metres going forward.
14. Siva Naulago - 6
Plenty of first-half involvements and kept his side going forward with some powerful bursts and took his try very well on the stroke of half-time to dive over out wide. But overall the flyer wasn’t given the time or space to impact the game in the way Pat Lam would have liked.
13. Joe Jenkins - 5
Just a fifth appearance in all competitions for the 19-year-old starlet, and he almost made the perfect start to the game but fumbled MacGinty’s inch-perfect chip kick with the try line begging. Learnt the hard way not to take on Manu Tuilagi in a straight line carry after getting monstered in midfield.
12. James Williams – 5
Displayed his long-range kicking abilities with a booming 45-metre penalty midway through the opening 40 but was defensively caught napping for Sale’s second try as he overran the carry from Jono Ross, allowing the back-row to glide past his inside and set up du-Preez to score. Made just five metres going forward as he was kept quiet by the visitors.
11. Gabriel Ibitoye - 5
A poor evening on all accounts for the winger. Unforced error dropping a wayward box-kick deep into the second-half epitomised his evening after a quiet display, partially made amends with a well taken score late on.
10. AJ MacGinty - 7
Lining up against his old side, the fly-half had to make do with limited front foot ball as his forward pack struggled to lay the platform in the face of a bruising Sale pack, but he showed his class with a pinpoint cross-field kick that set Naulago free for his score in the corner, before adding a superb touchline conversion. Showed excellent defensive abilities all evening but was never given the foundations to unlock his side’s full attacking potential. The Bears best player on the night.
9. Harry Randall - 5
On his landmark 100th appearance for Bears, the scrum-half kicked very well out of hand, as he marshalled his team around the pitch very effectively early on. However, as Sale showed their top-four pedigree, the usually busy scrum-half wasn’t able to stamp his usual x-factor on the game as the groans and sighs began to ring around Ashton Gate. Will be disappointed with his display.
1. Ellis Genge - 5
The England captain was at the heart of a bruising forward battle against a ferocious visiting pack, and was on the wrong-side of referee Luke Pearce at the set-piece from the outset. Can count himself very lucky to have received just a yellow card for his reckless tackle on international team mate Tom Curry, and displayed his frustration with a heated exchange off the ball with the Sale flanker in the immediate aftermath.
2. Harry Thacker - 6
Coped well with the unfavourable conditions at set piece throwing well for the most part and led the tackle stats chalking up 15 during his 70-minute cameo. But another who failed to make his usual dynamic presence felt.
3. Max Lahiff - 5
Made Gus Warr’s start to the evening as uncomfortable as possible with some bruising shots on the Sharks nine, but made a very poor defensive mistake when the prop went far too high with his attempted tackle on Ben Curry and was shrugged aside as the flanker powered through to score. Left the field on 48 minutes after a sub-par performance.
4. Joe Batley - 6
Not given the room for his trademark galloping breaks we are used to seeing every week, and in the unfavourable conditions he was kept under wraps well by the visitors. Always reliable in the engine room, but only glimpses of his best on the night.
5. Chris Vui – 5
The 30-year-old lock could only manage to make 13 metres with the ball in hand and was forced to focus all of his work into defensive areas as the forward bombardment became relentless.
6. Steven Luatua - 5
Just a 13th appearance of the season after an injury-blighted campaign so far, and the Bears skipper was not alone in playing in the face of the Curry brother’s masterclass. Could only muster three carries as he was dragged into the defensive dogfight.
7. Fitz Harding - 6
Made a constant nuisance of himself around the breakdown, and applied constant pressure on George Ford, not giving the fly-half a moment’s rest. Worked hard for his 14 carries but to little avail in the end.
8. Magnus Bradbury - 5
The powerful number-eight gave the home fans their biggest roar of the night when his sensational corner flagging cover tackle prevented a certain try when he scragged Tom O’Flaherty, but was another who lacked impact with the ball in hand.
Replacements
16. Will Capon - 5
17. Yann Thomas - 5
18. Kyle Sinckler – 6
Struggled at the scrum, lively on the ball at times
19. Sam Jefferies – 5
Over-chased for Warr’s try in what was a tough outing in the loose
20. Dan Thomas - 5
21. Andy Uren - 5
22. Sam Bedlow – 6
Glimpses of energy with some lovely touches, but too little too late
