Exeter tuned up for their season-defining Heineken Champions Cup semi-final against La Rochelle next weekend with an impressive 22-21 comeback win over Bristol; Bath edged to a 45-35 win over Harlequins during a thrilling back-and-forth game at Twickenham
Last Updated: 22/04/23 11:23pm
Sale Sharks’ Ben Curry in action during their Gallagher Premiership win over Gloucester
Sale Sharks booked a home tie in the Gallagher Premiership play-offs after digging deep to defeat Gloucester 25-22 at Kingsholm as part of Saturday’s action…
Gloucester 22-25 Sale
Sale are likely to host Leicester on May 13, with Alex Sanderson’s team chasing a second Premiership title 17 years after they were crowned English champions.
Gloucester made them fight every inch of the way, but Sale even overcame yellow cards for England internationals Tom Curry and Manu Tuilagi as they displayed admirable resilience.
George Ford’s 64th-minute penalty repelled Gloucester’s resistance before Sam James’ breakaway effort during the closing stages saw victory confirmed.
Lock Jean-Luc du Preez, No 8 Jono Ross and substitute James scored tries for Sale, with Ford adding two penalties and two conversions, while Gloucester delivered touchdowns from captain Lewis Ludlow, plus wings Louis Rees-Zammit and Jonny May.
Adam Hastings, in his first match since suffering a shoulder injury on Christmas Eve, booted two conversions and a penalty but Gloucester were left with a losing bonus-point as scant consolation.
Exeter Chiefs 22-21 Bristol
Fourteen-player Exeter tuned up for their season …