Gloucester 17-23 Sale Sharks: Visitors withstand second-half fightback

Billy Twelvetrees contributed 12 points for Gloucester, but Sale Sharks held on for another Premiership victory. Sale Sharks claimed their seventh win of the Premiership season, temporarily moving them within four points of leaders Exeter Chiefs, with a 23-17 success at Gloucester on Friday.

Sale were on top in the first half but had to wait until the 26th minute and Robert du Preez's first penalty to open the scoring. They were 10-0 up by the break, however, after a Luke James try, with Bryn Evans stretching their advantage further five minutes after the restart.

Even when Fraser Balmain crossed for Gloucester on 56 minutes, Marland Yarde offered a swift riposte to restore a healthy Sharks lead. But Billy Twelvetrees, having already kicked a penalty and a conversion, set up a tense finale with a 63rd-minute score, kicking the extras himself. There would be no dramatic recovery, though, as Du Preez restored some breathing space with another penalty, as Sale saw out the victory.