Newcastle Falcons vs Sale Sharks Match-Day Programme

LEFT
WING
TOM ROEBUCK
The European break saw their Champions Cup campaign
beginning in style as they hammered Stade Francais 28-5
at home, but it was to be their last game in the competition
as they lost away to Leinster (37-27), away to the Stormers
(31-24) and at home to La Rochelle (24-37), dropping down to
the Challenge Cup round of 16 where they were defeated 23-15
at Ospreys.
Sale’s last two Premiership games of the calendar year brought
contrasting results when they ground out a 22-20 home win
over Saracens in a repeat of the previous season’s final, but
were beaten 21-17 away by Northampton Saints.
2024 has seen comparatively slim pickings for Sanderson’s
charges, with a 32-20 reverse at Gloucester kicking off the
new year.
That was followed by their friendly loss to Newcastle and a 42-
24 defeat at Bath at the end of the Six Nations hiatus, although
an emphatic 41-5 home victory over Exeter Chiefs did at least
lay to rest the ghosts of their early-season drubbing in Devon.
Their last assignment at home to Harlequins a week ago
brought a 37-31 win, with the tight nature of the Gallagher
Premiership table meaning every point counts in their quest for
Champions Cup rugby and beyond.
careers.
LEFT
CENTRE
MANU TUILAGI
BELOW
LOCK
JOSH BEAUMONT
The Premiership Rugby Cup campaign saw Sale bowing out at
the group stage after losses at Newcastle and Leicester Tigers,
although there were victories over Championship sides Caldy,
Ampthill and Bedford.
They got off to a flyer in the Gallagher Premiership, however,
winning five of their first six games - a run which began with a
20-15 home triumph over now-high-flying Northampton Saints.
A 24-17 away win at Leicester reinforced their credentials
as a serious challenger, and even a 43-0 thumping at Exeter
did not knock them off their stride as they bounced back by
beating Gloucester at home (24-10), Bristol Bears away (13-27),
Newcastle at home (40-22) and Bath at home (11-9).
IN OPPOSITION - SALE SHARKS
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