GLOUCESTER LEAVE IT LATE TO EDGE PAST SALE IN KINGSHOLM THRILLER
Gloucester secured back-to-back victories in the Gallagher Prem for the first time this season, beating Sale Sharks 21-15 thanks to a last-gasp try from Charlie Atkinson.
George Ford had produced a phenomenal drop goal with seven minutes to play that put Sale ahead, but Atkinson dived over with virtually the last play, securing a brilliant Gloucester win.
Max Llewellyn broke from deep to push the Cherries up the pitch, before Atkinson found a brilliant line to grab his second score of the night.
Sale Sharks got the opening try of the match after just eight minutes, with youngster Alfie Longstaff finishing off a flowing move.
Ford started things off, with Jacques Vermeulen offloading to Tom Roebuck, who set up Longstaff and the hooker dived over for his second try in as many matches.
Gloucester thought they had leveled the scores ten minutes later, only to be denied by the TMO.
Matias Alemanno had dived over the line after the ball had been worked wide, but replays showed a clear knock on before the ball was grounded.
Atkinson puts ‘Kingsholm on its feet’ with stunning late winner to deny Sale
Video credit: TNT Sports
The visitors grabbed a second try of the match after 24 minutes, completely against the run of play.
Longstaff stole the ball in midfield, before feeding Tom O’Flaherty, who showed electric pace to burst from the halfway line to score between the posts.
Gloucester hit back right at the end of the first half, finally making the most of the pressure they’d put Sale under for the majority of the half.
Tomos Williams fed Loader off the back of a maul and the winger powered through two defenders to score and bring the hosts back into the game.
Arthur Clark thought he had put the hosts in control with 20 minutes to play, bursting through a gap to score from halfway, but the try was disallowed for a forward pass following a TMO review.
The game seemed to be petering out, until Ford decided to take control, with his incredible drop goal silencing the Kingsholm crowd.
However, the home supporters were soon up and cheering, as Gloucester, who dominated the majority of the second half, stole a much-deserved victory right at the death, despite Ford’s best efforts.
The Cherries visit Saracens next week looking for a third consecutive win, while Sale host Leicester Tigers.
Ford nails ridiculous 50-metre drop-goal to restore Sale’s lead
Video credit: TNT Sports