Sale Sharks 17-18 Cardiff Blues
Richard Mustoe was the hero as his last-gasp try handed Cardiff Blues a hard-fought EDF Energy Cup triumph over Sale Sharks.Â
Replacement wing Mustoe crashed over in the 80th minute from Jamie Roberts’ pass to seal an unlikely win at Edgeley Park.Â
Nick MacLeod almost came back to haunt his former side as he booted Sale into a 17-13 lead until Mustoe pounced.
MacLeod left the Blues in the summer but scored 12 points in a composed display against his old pals.Â
Rudi Keil’s first-half try had put the Guinness Premiership outfit in a commanding position before Welshman MacLeod added two further penalties after the interval.Â
Leigh Halfpenny touched down for the Blues in the first half but Ceri Sweeney’s penalty kept the visitors in touch before the dramatic finish.Â
And another bright spot saw the return of Martyn Williams from an ankle ligament injury ahead of the Blues Heineken Cup opener against Calvisano next Saturday.Â
Williams emerged unscathed throughout a scrappy 80 minutes and will have been pleased watching Wales coach Warren Gatland.Â
After a sluggish start, the Blues hit back though Halfpenny’s try in the 12th minute. Scrum-half Richie Rees made the crucial break and his clever reverse pass allowed Halfpenny to ease under the posts.
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But Sale soon regained their advantage three minutes later with a wonderful try of their own.Â
The hosts capitalised on quick turnover ball and after a flowing move through the backs, South African Rudi Keil crashed over in the left corner.Â
McLeod failed with the conversion and a penalty before Blair did the same on a windy afternoon in Stockport.Â
But the Blues full-back found his radar on the half hour to put the Blues back in front.Â
MacLeod fired Sale into the lead for the third time before hooker Marc Jones was yellow-carded before the interval for a dangerous tackle.Â
It made little difference as the versatile MacLeod slotted home his third penalty in the 44th minute to hand Sale a 14-10 lead.Â
MacLeod converted his fourth penalty before Ceri Sweeney took over kicking duties from Blair to cut Sale’s lead to four points with a close-range penalty before Mustoe clinched the win.
Scorers:
Sale Sharks
Try: Keil
Con
Pens: MacLeod (4)
Cardiff Blues
Tries: Halfpenny, Mustoe
Con: Blair
Pens: Blair, Sweeney
Referee: Tim Hayes (WRU)
Attendance: 7,485
