Bristol work hard to unlock Sale with a surprising 'game within a game' battle

Sale Sharks were so close to keeping their great record against Bristol after putting a sublime defensive effort and hunger against a side that are known to score tries and great ones too. Byron McGuigan got his side to smother the Bears and take away their 'thinking time' and force them into fast uneasy decisions. With this they cut off things at the source by putting Tom Jordan under pressure at 10.

The test match feel of the game had an unlikely game within the game as Ellis Genge and Tom Curry had plenty of scuffles, chirps and banter throughout the game, many of it came after scrums and hotly contested scrums.

With George Ford dictating things and taking points for the visitors it took a longer worked plan for the hosts that ultimately came good as they exposed the defence and tired legs with some long range skip passes and a stroke of luck as make shift winger, Raffi Quirke, was targeted following a knee injury that hampered his movement. 

You hope that the Quirke injury is not serious as the starting 9 who had to move to the wing had a sublime game and was a constant threat on attack and defence.

Bristol scored the match winner in the 72nd minute to secure a 19-17 win.

Stand out players on the day were Ellis Genge, Pedro Rubiolo, Tom Curry, Tom O'Flaherty, Raffi Quirke and George Ford