Sale crush the Falcons
September 8, 2001

Jonny Wilkinson failed to appear for the second-half as Sale answered their many critics in the best possible way as they romped to an emphatic 37-11 win over Newcastle.

In the week Rob Andrew said that if his side lost to Sale having beaten Leicester last week it would be like the England football team losing to Albania after their win over Germany.

But the former England fly-half was made to eat his words at Heywood Road.

Newcastle didn't get off to the best of starts with the late arrival of Pat Lam and Va'aiga Tuigamala, who were caught up in traffic and who arrived at the ground just minutes before the team had to be named.

Jonny Wilkinson kicked the Falcons into a three-point lead and they looked in control until Charlie Hodgson levelled the scores on 10 minutes.

Sale than blazed ahead with a try and conversion from Hodgson and a try out wide for winger Steve Hanley after some powerful running from the Sale backs.

Hodgson added another penalty as Sale recovered from their slow start to finish the first half the much stronger side.

There's no stopping Jason Robinson these days and he tunnelled his way through a pile of players to score Sale's third try on 50 minutes.

Sale's fourth came thanks to a terrific forward drive with new signing Stuart Pinkerton taking the ball on and Pete Anglesea grounding.

Newcastle hit back with a try from Hugh Vyvyan and after several minutes of intense pressure it took another dazzling run from Robinson to clear Sale's line.

Sale rounded off an impressive display with a try from Adam Black just seconds after coming on as a replacement and stand-in kicker Jos Baxendell landed the conversation from the touch line.

Written off by many Sale have now notched up two bonus points in their opening games and are certainly not a team to be taken lightly as Newcastle found to their cost.

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