Luke warms up Sharks

McAlister: Winning start with Sharks

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Luke McAlister helped Sale end their away day blues with a 34-15 win over struggling Worcester at Sixways.

The All Blacks centre booted nine points on his debut and also had a hand in the Sharks' first try as they ended an 11-match losing run on the road in the league.

Worcester know all about being on the wrong end of results as they are still left searching for their first success in the Guinness Premiership this year.

How they wish their own Kiwi imports, Rico Gear and Sam Tuitupou, could have been fit to go up against McAlister, arguably the biggest signing of the close season.

Early impression

The former Auckland Blue needed just over two minutes to show off his skills and help set up Sale's first try, his offload out of the tackle leading to Rory Lamont sliding over next to the posts.

Not to be outdone by his new centre partner, Lee Thomas showed his quality with a bursting run down the middle that led to the Sharks' second score.

From the breakdown Charlie Hodgson spotted Mark Cueto on the touchline and arrowed out a perfect kick that the winger caught and finished off, reaching out with his right hand to plant the ball over the line.

Hodgson added one conversion attempt and a penalty to give Sale a 15-point cushion in as many minutes.

To their credit Worcester battled back into the game, getting plenty of possession but failing to find a cutting edge inside the 22.

A penalty from Shane Drahm did at least mean they had three points to their name as the first half came to an end and their cause was helped out by the absence of Sebastien Chabal from Sale's pack after the break.

Once again the Warriors poured forward, enjoying wave after wave of attacks but finishing with nothing to show for their hard work.

A misplaced pass from Drahm that missed both Rasmussen and Garvey and went into touch summed up their night, Sale then going up the other end and showing them how it should be done.

Ben Foden accepted Hodgson's long pass from a set scrum, showed a cheeky dummy and scampered along the touchline to go in at the right corner.

Lifeline

The full-back's individual effort should have sealed the result in the visitors' favour, but Worcester were thrown a lifeline when Andrew Sheridan was sin-binned for a late tackle on Thinus Delport.

From the resulting penalty Sanderson dived over from a rolling maul that was followed by an exchange of blows between the two packs.

Hooker Sebastien Bruno joined front-row partner Sheridan in the sin-bin for Sale and although Tom Wood was yellow carded for his part in the fracas, the extra man offered further optimism for the Warriors.

However, with Hodgson off the field, McAlister showed he's more than just a physical prescence in the midfield with three excellent kicks from long range.

Sanderson did manage a second try for the home side but it was to no avail, lock Dean Schofield's late effort securing a winning bonus point to round off an excellent night for Sale.