Brive send Sharks packing
Sale Sharks crashed out of Europen after a 19-9 Amlin Challenge Cup defeat against French side Brive.
Last Updated: 20/01/12 7:18am
Sale Sharks' hopes of an Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final were ended by
tonight's 19-9 home defeat to French side Brive.
The 2002 and 2005 tournament winners needed to win and deny Brive a bonus point to progress but were outmuscled in the later stages by the visitors, who march on into the knockout stages for the second season running.
Nick MacLeod kicked three penalties for the Sharks but his efforts were in vain as Julien Caminati matched his effort and also kicked a late conversion after the impressive Antoine Claassen barged over from close range.
With a place in the last eight on the line it was a predictably tight opening
in Stockport with the forwards battling it out for the upper hand during the
early exchanges.
Sale fly-half MacLeod slotted an early penalty to settle the nerves at
Edgeley Park after Brive were penalised on their own put-in.
Julien Caminati levelled things up for the visitors with a long-range strike of
his own, but Sale were back in front just five minutes later after MacLeod's
second effort.
Pressure
Brive failed to convert pressure into points after a concerted spell of
territory and were punished further with MacLeod knocking over his third penalty after more indiscipline from Brive at the set-piece.
Caminati grabbed a second penalty for his side though right on the stroke of
half-time, kicking Brive back to within three points at the break.
The Brive centre was the first to strike in the second period as he levelled
things up after 50 minutes after missing an earlier shot at goal.
Brive's big French pack started to control proceedings, but again Sale's
defence held firm and Caminati could not push his side into the lead as he
struck the posts with his next attempt.
The visitors' efforts were finally rewarded when the impressive Antoine
Claassen barged over from close range which was converted by Caminati.
The centre then rounded off the victory with a penalty two minutes from time.
In the pool's other game, Agen hammered Spanish minnows La Vila 62-7 in a dead rubber. Saimoni Vaka scored three of the French side's 10 tries.
