Sale Snatch 28-24 Win Over Quins With Late Penalty Try as Strugglers Stay Bottom

Sale Sharks found a way to win when it mattered most, overturning a game they had trailed all afternoon to beat Harlequins 28-24 in Salford and condemn the visitors to a third successive Gallagher Prem defeat. This was a different Quins from the side humiliated 48-0 at Gloucester a week ago. England playmaker Marcus Smith made his first appearance of the season after a finger injury and scored twice in the opening quarter, hooker Sam Riley also bagged a brace, and only two disallowed tries denied them a bigger half-time lead than 17-14. George Furbank pulled the strings from full-back in an encouraging display. But Sale's pack broke the game open in the final quarter. Fijian number eight Elia Canakaivata marked his first Prem start with a try, Gus Warr and Ben Bamber added further scores, and with seven minutes left the Sharks' rolling maul thundered 30 metres before Riley collapsed it at the line. A penalty try was awarded, Riley was sin-binned, and the Sharks closed out the result. Courtney Lawes delivered a crucial lineout steal when Quins pressed late, while Ben Curry made his return from injury off the bench. George Ford's boot added three conversions. Victory gave Sale back-to-back wins after their opening-day loss to Bristol, and a fifth consecutive league victory over Quins. Alex Sanderson called his side scrappers; Jason Gilmore insisted his team would bounce back. But the table tells its own story: Harlequins remain bottom, this time at least leaving with two bonus points to show for a genuine step forward.