Sale Sharks 25-20 Bristol Bears: Home team continues to stabilize Gallagher Premiership begins as Du Preez brothers combine | Rugby League News

Revenue reeled against league leaders Saracens with a narrow win over Bristol, aided by a second-half effort by Jean-Luc de Preez and brother Rob’s conversion and an earlier penalty; The away team took the lead in the first half and started the second half well

Rob du Preez (centre) scored one of Sale’s three attempts against the Bristol Bears

The Sale Sharks’ favorable start to the Gallagher Premiership season continued with a tenacious 25-20 win over the Bristol Bears at AJ Bell Stadium.

The first half saw momentum turn both ways, although Bristol regrouped to hold a two-point advantage in that period, thanks in large part to two successful transitions. Piers O’Conor.

However, Jean-Luc du Preez’s second-half effort, coupled with his brother Rob’s conversion and an earlier penalty, gave the hosts a seventh win of the season.

Bristol got off to a lively start with the first strike from the opening kick, but failed to capitalize on O’Conor’s run, but they were still largely behind in the early stages of the game as Sale driving pressure inside the Bears ‘ 22.

Tom Roebuck had a disallowed attempt in the seventh minute but after three sales the hosts broke the deadlock after nine minutes when Rob du Preez missed in the opening attempt.

However, in the Bears’ second attack, O’Conor found space on the right and broke through to bring the equalizer through Callum Sheedy.

Sale was quick to respond in the 23rd minute when Roebuck hit a Rob du Preez kick and touched down after stealing the ball from Charles Piutau. Rob du Preez didn’t mess with the conversion.

Rob du Preez then gave his team the lead with a penalty as momentum turned Sale’s way, but after some sloppy play, Bristol’s Luke Morahan broke the line and despite was blocked, but the ball went to O’Conor, who had an easy second entry.

And Bristol entered the first half with a two-point advantage after AJ MacGinty scored a penalty in the final seconds.

Bristol emerged from the break questioning Sell in their 22nd round and won a penalty after having the advantage, with former Shark MacGinty kicking between the posts again in the 47th minute.

But Sale responded with a penalty of their own two minutes later when Rob du Preez opted in and fired a shot over the bar.

Things remained tense as Bristol sought to extend the lead with an offensive power that forced the Sharks into their half, but as the final half drew near, it was Sharks’ turn to charge into Bristol’s defence.

In the 68th minute, a Sale mallet drove over the line where TMO eventually awarded Jean-Luc du Preez an attempt to swing the score in favor of the Sharks.

Alex Sanderson’s side refused to let Bristol pass in the 75th minute when their tenacious defense let the visitors touch each other in the goal area.

The Sharks’ hard-fought victory reeled from league leaders Saracens while the 10th-placed Bears fell for their sixth straight loss – their worst Premiership form since 2017.