Newcastle 15-39 Sale: Player ratings as George Ford orchestrates brutal shark attack against Falcons
03/25/2025 05:24 AM
Sale Sharks annihilated Newcastle Falcons on Friday night as the Gallagher Premiership returned, with George Ford choreographing his fast, flowing and powerful team to a five-star performance.
Ford's boot got the first score of the game, but it was Bevan Rodd who grabbed the first try of the game, stepping and running through a few defenders before sliding across the line.
However, Cameron Neild got Newcastle on the scoresheet, breaking away from a strong maul on the five-metre-line. Rob du Preez extended the Sale lead, Tom Roebuck slipped through the Falcons defence to tee him up. Ford grabbed another two penalties, and then gave Tom O'Flaherty the perfect short ball to burst through the line and score before half time.
It took 11 minutes for Sale to score in the half, Tadgh McElroy breaking away from the maul and dotting it down to extend an ever-growing Sale lead. It all went quiet on the scoring front, not through lack of trying: Sale put on heavy pressure and finally grabbed another after Joe Carpenter collected a perfectly placed cross-field kick to dot down.
Falcons were able to pull back a last minute consolation, Richard Palframan powering his way over, but the damage had already been done. Sale Sharks win their fifth straight match over Newcastle in Premiership Rugby, and strengthen their charge towards the Top 4.
Newcastle Falcons
TRIES: 2 (Neild 22', Palframan 80')
CONVERSIONS: 1 (Connon 23')
PENALTIES: 1 (Connon 33')
DROP GOALS: 0
YELLOW CARDS: 0
RED CARDS: 0
15. Elliott Obatoyinbo 14. Oli Spencer 13. Sammy Arnold 12. Max Clark 11. Alex Hearle 10. Brett Connon 9. Sam Stuart 1. Adam Brocklebank 2. Jamie Blamire 3. Murray McCallum 4. Philip van der Walt 5. Kiran McDonald 6. Freddie Lockwood 7. Cameron Neild 8. Callum Chick (Captain)
Replacements
16. Ollie Fletcher 17. Micky Rewcastle 18. Richard Palframan 19. Sebastian de Chaves 20. Ollie Leatherbarrow 21. Joe Davis 22. Kieran Wilkinson 23. Louis Brown
Sale Sharks:
TRIES: 5 (Rodd 10', R du Preez 30', O'Flaherty 40', McElroy 51', Carpenter 68')
CONVERSIONS: 4 (Ford 11', 31', 40', 52')
PENALTIES: 2 (Ford 4', 38')
DROP GOALS: 0
YELLOW CARDS: 1 (McIntyre 64')
RED CARDS: 0
15. Joe Carpenter 14. Tom Roebuck 13. Rob du Preez 12. Rekeiti Ma'asi White 11. Tom Flaherty 10. George Ford 9. Gus Warr 1. Bevan Rodd 2. Tadgh McElroy 3. Asher Kpoku-Fordjour 4. Ben Bamber 5. Jonny Hill 6. Ernst van Rhyn 7. Ben Curry (Captain) 8. Jean-Luc du Preez
Replacements
16. Harry Thompson 17. Si McIntyre 18. WillGriff John 19. Hyron Andrews 20. Sam Dugdale 21. Nye Thomas 22. Sam Bedlow 23. Arron Reed
Newcastle Falcons Player Ratings
15. Elliott Obatoyinbo – 6
Yet quiet, the job was done.
14. Oli Spencer – 6
Was fairly silent on his flank.
13. Sammy Arnold – 7
Reliable weapon for Brett Connon as always, unfortunately not effective enough.
12. Max Clark – 6
Some decent runs but nothing to show for it.
11. Alex Hearle – 4
A few handling errors in the backfield, missed tackles, and some questionable decision making.
10. Brett Connon – 7
Moved the ball around well, but just not as well as hoped.
9. Sam Stuart – 5
Not his finest game at all, subbed off at 45 minutes after failing to create much.
1. Adam Brocklebank – 6
Decent scrummager, but not much else to point out.
2. Jamie Blamire – 7
Great set-piece work: throwing reliable line-outs and strong scrums.
3. Murray McCallum – 6
Good work in the set piece, but mostly unnoticed.
4. Philip van der Walt – 6
Strong attack, yet a little sloppy in defence.
5. Kiran McDonald – 6
Good strength going forward, unfortunately ended his night early.
6. Freddie Lockwood – 6
Fairly quiet performance.
7. Cameron Neild – 7
Grabbed his first Falcons try, good defensive instinct kept Sale working.
8. Callum Chick © – 7
Always reliable in attack and defence.
Replacements – 7
Joe Davis wasn't much better than Stuart. They were able to get the spark re-lit, with a Palframan try at the very end.
Sale Sharks Player Ratings
15. Joe Carpenter – 8
Reliable in the backfield, and useful in attack, grabbing a try for his efforts.
14. Tom Roebuck – 8
Provided pace in space, and agility towards contact. Created plenty of chances.
13. Rob du Preez – 7
Powerful into contact, with a try to show for his efforts.
12. Rekeiti Ma'asi White – 7
Strong in contact and fast in space.
11. Tom Flaherty – 7
A few handling mistakes but another great option out wide.
10. George Ford – 10
Spent the whole night pulling strings and creating plenty of chances. Phenomenal.
9. Gus Warr – 8
Easily the better scrum-half on the night, quick ball kept Sale flowing.
1. Bevan Rodd – 9
Incredibly strong going forward, great scrumming and did his job in defence.
2. Tadgh McElroy – 7
Reliable line-outs and a try to add a cherry on top.
3. Asher Kpoku-Fordjour – 8
Strong scrummaging, strong carries helped Sale move forward.
4. Ben Bamber – 6
Good, strong lines. Good option in the lineout.
5. Jonny Hill – 6
Useful in the breakdown, and good hard lines.
6. Ernst van Rhyn – 6
Very effective going forward, didn't step a foot wrong.
7. Ben Curry © – 8
Fantastic physicality and crucial at the breakdown and in defence
8. Jean-Luc du Preez – 7
Strong carries, made his presence very much known.
Replacements – 6
Preserved the Sale lead, but didn't have much more direct pressure.
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