Sale edge English champions Exeter after red card
PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Exeter hooker Jack Yeandle became the latest player to be shown a red card in the English Premiership as the reigning champions suffered a 20-25 loss away to Sale on Friday.
The Chiefs were 12-8 ahead thanks to tries by Facundo Cordero and Sean Lonsdale when Yeandle was dismissed for connecting with the head of Chris Langdon.
Officials at all levels have been instructed to take strict action against those responsible for causing blows to the head as part of Rugby Union's response to concerns about the impact of concussion-related injuries.
Although down to 14 men, Exeter stayed in the game despite Sale's Bevan Rodd levelling the score before half-time.
Exeter and England lock Sam Simmonds scored a try after the break.
But Langdon's try, together with the boot of AJ MacGinty, saw third-placed Sale to a win that left them just three points adrift of second-placed Exeter.
The scorers:
For Sale Sharks:
Tries: McGuigan, Rodd, Langdon
Cons: MacGinty 2
Pens: MacGinty 2
For Exeter Chiefs:
Tries: Cordero, Lonsdale, S Simmonds
Con: J Simmonds
Pen: J Simmonds
Teams:
Sale Sharks: 15 Luke James, 14 Byron McGuigan, 13 Sam James, 12 Sam Hill, 11 Marland Yarde, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Cameron Neild, 6 Jono Ross (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Josh Beaumont, 3 WillGriff John, 2 Curtis Langdon, 1 Bevan Rodd.
Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Ross Harrison, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Sam Dugdale, 21 Raffi Quirke, 22 Robert du Preez, 23 Simon Hammersley.
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Josh Hodge, 14 Facundo Cordero, 13 Ian Whitten, 12 Ollie Devoto, 11 Tom O’Flaherty, 10 Joe Simmonds, 9 Jack Maunder, 8 Sam Simmonds, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Sam Skinner, 4 Sean Lonsdale, 3 Harry Williams, 2 Jack Yeandle (captain), 1 Alec Hepburn.
Replacements: 16 Jack Innard, 17 Ben Moon, 18 Marcus Street, 19 Don Armand, 20 Richard Capstick, 21 Stu Townsend, 22 Harvey Skinner, 23 Tom Hendrickson.
Referee: Karl Dickson
Assistant referees: Andrew Jackson & Jamie Leahy.
TMO: Ian Tempest.