RUGBY UNION: London Welsh v Sale Sharks (From Bicester Advertiser)
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RUGBY UNION: London Welsh v Sale Sharks
Updated 4:47pm Sunday 17th February 2013 in Sport
By Ed Mezzetti, Sports reporter specialising in Rugby, Cricket and Athletics. Call me on 01865 425456
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4:47pm
Welsh try some last-play heroics, but penalised for crossing. Full time: Welsh 25, Sale 26
4:43pm
Sale awarded penalty in front of posts, but tap and go
4:41pm
What a tense finish. Sale in the box seat.
4:35pm
Macleod slots for 26-25
4:34pm
Sale awarded penalty in front of posts
4:32pm
Sale go for the corner with a penalty on the right
4:28pm
Great Sale scrum forces penalty
4:25pm
Briggs held up for Welsh
4:22pm
This could be a dramatic final quarter
4:20pm
Welsh 25, Sale 23. Cipriani hits back straight away
4:18pm
Henson slots it for 25-20
4:17pm
Much closer range penalty for Henson this time
4:14pm
But it is well short!
4:14pm
Henson lines up a penalty from inside his own half.
4:12pm
Both sides are full of attacking intent now.
4:08pm
Henson converts for 22-20 and suddenly this is a cracker
4:07pm
Lovely hands from Henson creates try for MacKenzie. 20-20.
4:04pm
Davies slots a penalty for Welsh. 15-20
4:02pm
The half could not have started any worse for Welsh. Massive character test now.
4:02pm
Cipriani converts for 20-12
4:01pm
Sale make great start to the half with try by Braid and lead 18-12
3:58pm
Second half underway. Biggest 40 minutes of Welsh's season?
3:49pm
You feel that Welsh must score first in the second half if they are to reassert themselves.
3:43pm
That was hard on the Exiles, but showed how dangerous Sale can be.
3:43pm
Cipriani converts to give Sale a 13-12 lead at the break.
3:42pm
Breakaway try for Sale, scored by Cliff
3:41pm
Henson short with drop-goal attempt, but Welsh still attacking
3:35pm
He slots it via a post for 12-6
3:35pm
Welsh penalised at lineout, handing Cipriani a simple kick at goal
3:32pm
And he makes it! Welsh 12-3 ahead
3:31pm
Henson fancies another crack from half way
3:29pm
Welsh on a roll and Davies slots another penalty for 9-3
3:26pm
Welsh win penalty in front of posts after good period of pressure. Davies slots for 6-3.
3:24pm
Huge scrum sees Welsh take one against the head
3:23pm
Not much pattern so far, but Welsh having more territory
3:20pm
Sale do well to turn over ruck and clear
3:19pm
Sale mess up short lineout and Welsh get free kick and scrum ten metres out.
3:15pm
Welsh awarded penalty at scrum on halfway. Henson just wide, but had the distance
3:12pm
Welsh rally well and win penalty on edge of Sale 22. Welsh 3 (Davies), Sale 3
3:10pm
Pen awarded at scrum. Welsh 0, Sale 3 (Cipriani)
3:03pm
Welsh lose their first lineout then concede a penalty on the Sale 22.
3:00pm
And they're off
2:57pm
The Sale fans are making plenty of noise at the moment. With Sharks captained by former Chinnor flanker Dave Seymour, there may be a few locals cheering the visitors too! It is vital for Welsh that they start strongly.
2:53pm
Welsh have worked hard promoting this game in the hope of securing a large crowd. Sale have won the European Challenge Cup on their last two visits to the Kassam Stadium and will be eyeing a hat-trick.
2:46pm
Fly half Gavin Henson makes his first start for the Exiles since November 4, while Danny Cipriani wears the No 10 shirt for Sale. This is likely to be a tense, cagey encounter. Kick-off is at 3pm
2:40pm
London Welsh, in tenth, are six points above basement boys Sale Sharks. Victory today could go a long way to ensuring the Exiles's Premiership survival, but defeat would be a major blow. Sale have won their last three matches, although only one has been in the league, so come to the Kassam full of confidence.
