Sale Sharks 27 Northampton 24
It was in a losing cause, but Henry Pollock scored the kind of try that will be talked about for years as his burgeoning talent showed itself once again.
The 20-year-old back rower, who recently notched a double on his England debut against Wales, was at it again here, with a stunning individual effort so good that even the home fans rose to applause.
Collecting possession just inside Sale’s half, the pugnacious Pollock showed remarkable daring and ambition to chip over a clutch of home defenders before having the strength and skill to collect possession and ground the ball.
That levelled matters at 17-17 at the start of the second half and prompted talk that Pollock could be a bolter for the Lions squad touring Australia this summer.
Phil Dowson, Northampton’s director of rugby, said: “If Andy Farrell is looking for someone to make a difference then Henry is that sort of character. He’s definitely got the capability, but the back row is also ridiculously competitive.
“Henry’s got the ability to change games and do things others can’t. His try was pretty special and he’s got huge potential.”
On co-commentary, Ben Kay said: “He’s got everything. It is the strength to get it through initially. The confidence to do the chip over the top. It is a massive shot from [Luke] Cowan-Dickie but he rides it and goes with the contact, keeps his balance and then does that perfectly weighted chip. A little fortunate with the bounce but you make your own luck and when things are going for you, they tend to keep going for you.
“He is staking his claim [for a Lions jersey]. We were all thinking it is too early. It is too early, but if you are playing this style we have seen players go before at the beginning of their international journey. Not as first choice but in the squad, then something happens along the way. He is definitely in the conversation.”
Ugo Monye added on the TV coverage: “I do not think it is too early to talk about him going on the tour of Australia. He is on fire. He’s flying. You’re right: that sense of positivity is so infectious.”
Northampton’s play-off hopes, though, are all but over as Sale edged an entertaining encounter to clinch a bonus-point win that moved them into the play-off places.
Sale, still bubbling from last Friday’s 39-15 win at Newcastle Falcons and buoyed by the return of Tom Curry and Cowan-Dickie following their Six Nations exploits, made a vibrant start.
If they could not see off a Saints side hammered at home by Leicester seven days earlier, could they really consider themselves ready to reach the play-offs?
With George Ford’s artful handling and educated right boot guiding the hosts expertly around the park, it seemed only a matter of time before Alex Sanderson’s men opened the scoring – and so it proved.
Certainly Asher Opoku-Fordjour, the prodigiously talented Sale prop, appeared keen to showcase the ability that has had him touted for potential inclusion in the Lions squad.
The 20-year-old was playing tighthead here, but is equally adept at loosehead and that versatility was talked up by Lions scrum coach John Fogarty earlier this week.
Sale led when a long, floated pass from Ford found England team-mate Tom Roebuck advancing at pace inside the right channel.
His progress was halted by a head-on-head contact from Tom James, which earned the Northampton fly-half a yellow card, but Tom O’Flaherty pounced to score in the corner.
Things went from bad to worse for the visitors when Tommy Freeman joined James in the sin-bin for a deliberate knock-on and Sale soon had their second try.
O’Flaherty’s teasing kick inside the left channel was fielded by Curry and his delightful pass found Roebuck, whose pace and strength took him clear down the wing to score.
Ford converted to make it 12-0 but the 14 men of Northampton scored out of nowhere when Pollock galloped upfield on a typically marauding run. He found Alex Coles and his short pass sent the supporting Emmanuel Iyogun over in the left corner.
Alex Mitchell could not convert the try and Sale soon had their third when Joe Carpenter broke from full-back, drew the Northampton defence, and showed intelligence to send Roebuck racing clear for his second.
Saints, to their credit, kept probing and were rewarded when Freeman burst through some flimsy defending and Mitchell’s conversion cut Sale’s lead to five points.
Three minutes before the interval, Ford was sent to the sin-bin for a head-on-head contact on Burger Odendaal. It was the fly-half’s first yellow card in 11 years.
After the break, Pollock showed breathtaking quality to chip the ball over the Sale defence before regathering to score, but Bevan Rodd soon went over from close range to restore Sale’s advantage, with Ford converting and adding a penalty.
Northampton were not finished. Captain Fraser Dingwall went over from close range and Mitchell converted to secure a bonus point – yet Sale were not to be denied.
Scores 5-0 O’Flaherty try, 10-0 Roebuck try, 12-0 Ford con, 12-5 Iyogun try, 17-5 Roebuck try, 17-10 Freeman try, 17-12 Mitchell con, 17-17 Pollock try, 22-17 Rodd try, 24-17 Ford con, 27-17 Ford pen, 27-22 Dingwall try, 27-24 Mitchell con.
Sale Sharks J Carpenter; T Roebuck, R Du Preez, S Bedlow (W Addison 24, A Reed 71), T O’Flaherty; G Ford, G Warr; B Rodd (S McIntyre 55), L Cowan-Dickie (T McElroy 72), A Opoku-Fordjour (W John 55), B Bamber, J Hill, E Van Rhyn, T Curry, JL Du Preez.
Northampton Saints J Ramm; T Freeman, B Odendaal (T Litchfield 76), F Dingwall (Litchfield 40, F Dingwall 41), G Hendy; T James, A Mitchell; E Iyogun (T Haffar 61), C Langdon, T Davison; C Munga (T Mayanavanua 48), A Coles; J Kemeny, A Scott-Young (J Augustus 48), H Pollock.
Referee H Smales (RFU).
