Sale seal dominant win at Quins in play-off race

Gallagher Premiership

Harlequins: (15) 29

Tries: Kenningham, Murley, Anderson, Jibulu Cons: Smith 3 Pens: Smith

Sale: (26) 43

Tries: Cowan-Dickie, T Curry 2, Opoku-Fordjour, Hill, JL de Preez, Roebuck Cons: R du Preez 4

England's Tom Curry scored two tries as Sale Sharks overpowered Harlequins and strengthened their claims for a Premiership play-off place.

The lead changed hands four times in a pulsating first half, but scores from Luke Cowan-Dickie, Curry, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Jonny Hill, Jean-Luc du Preez and Tom Roebuck secured a vital win for the visitors.

Quins had taken an early lead through Jack Kenningham and would add three more tries through vice-captain Cadan Murley, Cameron Anderson and Sale-bound Nathan Jibulu as they saw their hopes of a semi-final place take a big hit.

Victory moved Sale up to third in the table with 44 points, with Saracens, Gloucester and Leicester Tigers all yet to play.

Harlequins remain seventh with 38 points and could be as many as eight points off the play-offs by the end of the weekend.

With Andy Farrell set to announce his squad next month for the British and Irish Lions' upcoming tour of Australia, many eyes are on who is performing in the final weeks of the domestic season.

And it was Sale's stars who shone in the sunshine at The Twickenham Stoop, after they recovered from a slow start and the hosts taking a 10-0 lead.

All seven of the Sharks' tries were scored by forwards as they dominated the Harlequins pack.

England hooker Cowan-Dickie was tireless in the front row and bulldozed his way through in a quick attack from the maul for his side's first try of the match.

The first half was breathless at times as both teams attacked the spaces, and the Sale front rower never stopped running, chasing down a long kick from Ford when players from both sides were tiring.

With competition fierce among the fly-halves for spots on the plane, fly-half Ford provided a reminder of his quality with both hands and feet, central to every move forward from the visitors.

England flanker Curry's remarkable return from hip surgery continued with two tries, powering over the line for his first before swivelling through two last-gasp challenges for his second.

Harlequins conceded more than 40 points for the third game in a row as they were ultimately well beaten at home.

Danny Wilson's team have now shipped 152 points in their last three outings and face an uphill battle to make the top four.

They made a bright start with Kenningham's early try but struggled to deal with the power of the Sharks as the game progressed.

The impressive Opoku-Fordjour made two powerful long runs, ending with Curry's first try before the 20-year-old scored himself.

Hill and Jean-Luc du Preez were both able to dot down over the line from close range.

The hosts did give themselves hope with late tries from hooker Nathan Jibulu, who will move to Sale in the summer, finishing in spectacular style with a gallop to the corner, and then from Anderson, who was a late addition to the side with Nick David ruled out with illness, to bring them within seven points with three minutes left.

But as they pushed for the win at the end, Ben Waghorn's loose pass was a gift for Roebuck and the England wing cruised over unchallenged to seal the win for Sharks.

Sale Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson said:

"How good is Tom [Curry]? He's put in a good shift there. He was brilliant but you have to look after him.

"These are boys you have to protect for themselves. He and the likes of [Luke] Cowan-Dickie are pushing for Lions honours, and they richly deserve it if you're just going on that game.

"They are naming the squad soon for Australia but you'd like to think Tom will have a chance.

"We have a great pack. Asher Opoku-Fordjour was outstanding too. He's so powerful. That will set him apart from other tightheads. But you still have to do the bread and butter in mauling and scrummaging.

"George Ford was outstanding in the windy conditions. He controlled the game."

Sale fly-half George Ford said:

"It's a huge win but there are still four massive games remaining, so plenty of work still to be done.

"We knew we could cause them problems. I have to use my guys as weapons in the right areas of the field and it worked well today.

"We know what we can do given the time and openings. We wanted to defend well and remain disciplined."

Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson said:

"There are still four games and 20 points left to play for, so we will continue to fight.

"We have [Leicester] Tigers next and need to patch ourselves up and learn from this result and move on."

Harlequins: Green; Anderson, Beard, Northmore, Murley; Smith, Care; Baxter, Walker, Lamositele, Herbst, Cunningham-South, Kenningham, Evans, Dombrandt.

Replacements: Jibulu, Els, Jones, Launchbury, Lawday, Gjaltema, Benson, Waghorn.

Sale: Carpenter; Roebuck, R du Preez, Ma'asi-White, Reed; Ford, Warr; Rodd, Cowan-Dickie, Opoku-Fordjour, Bamber, Hill, Van Rhyn, T Curry, JL du Preez.

Replacements: McElroy, McIntyre, John, Dugdale, Andrews, Quirke, Bedlow, Wills.

Referee: Matthew Carley.