Glasgow 22 - 23 Sale: Lineen takes positives from Warriors performance

SALE responded to coach Mike Brewer's demand for a win at all costs, but it was Glasgow coach Sean Lineen who left last night's match the more encouraged after his injury-ravaged side won the try count 4-3 and did everything but claim victory in this opening pre-season match of the season.

• Glasgow's Max Evan's scores the second try. Picture: PA

A number of new signings grasped their opportunities with scrum-half Henry Pyrgos was a lively performer in the first half, providing slick service to the backs and asking questions of the Sale defence around the fringes, while flankers Ryan Wilson and Chris Fusaro worked well against a powerful Sale back row and Duncan Weir brought an assured presence to the second half and kicked well to step up the competition at stand-off with Ruaridh Jackson, who had controlled the first half well.

Another to give the home coaches something to think about was Stevie Swindall, their former flanker called in as emergency cover, who combined with Richie Gray for the two second-half tries from the talented lock that almost ensured a home victory.

In the forwards, Ryan Grant was up against the French nationalised New Zealander, Karena Wihongi, and at over 19 stones the powerhouse ensured a stiff early test on the left of the Glasgow scrum for the Glasgow debutant, but Grant stood up well. The towering Sale skipper James Gaskell ensured a good supply of lineout ball for the visitors, but Richie Gray was equally adepty at plucking balls from the sky with which Pyrgos often brought the back line to life.

There was inevitable rustiness and some spots of ambition did not come off, but there was an urgency about Glasgow's play from the kick-off rewarded as early as the 12th minute. Stortoni turned Sale with a chip and from a turnover, Pyrgos swiftly moved ball left and though Grant had an overlap the big prop showed great power in charging through two Sale defenders and slamming the ball down on the line.

Welshman Nick MacLeod opened Sale's account with a penalty, but Glasgow responded within four minutes, Stortoni again igniting the chance with a neat pass to DTH van der Merwe and, after dents by Fusaro and Swindall, Max Evans exploited a three-man overlap to run in for the hosts' second try.

Sale responded with some barrelling through the middle from their giant Fijian no8 Sisa Koyamaibole, but Glasgow limited them to another penalty and MacLeod missed the target. Sale made no fewer than 11 changes on the half-hour, which they swapped back on the hour-mark, and Scots referee Neil Paterson then handed the recast Sale a path back into the game when he and his officials waved away obstruction in midfield, the sizeable figure of Anitelia Tuilagi taking out two Glasgow backs to allow Paul Williams a break into space, and then supporting to take the final pass and dive over.

There were just two more minutes on the clock when Sale scored again, a chip by Rob Miller bouncing kindly for Jack Forster to batter through five metres to the line.

Sale lost Samoan Tuilagi to the sin-bin for sparking a melee with a punch at Rob Dewey and after making ten changes at half-time, Glasgow regained the initiative with a fine try finished by Gray after fine, patient build-up and Swindall's break and well-timed offload, which Weir converted to edge the Warriors back in front, 17-15. Among those introduced at the break and involved in the score was Will Cliff, a Sale scrum-half it was revealed last night to be on a six-week trial at Glasgow, and he showed some neat touches.

MacLeod and Rob Miller missed penalties before Miller found the target, Glasgow losing prop Kevin Tkachuk for a foolish kick at the ball, but it was Glasgow who continued to look the more threatening, the forwards' industry fine in the tight and turning over ball and the backs eagerly counter-attacking from deep and more patient attack inside the Sale 22 ended with Swindall putting Gray into the left-hand corner with 13 minutes remaining.

Dwayne Peel, the Wales and British and Irish Lions cap, thought he had scored, but was held up on the line, however, Sale stuck at it and Tom Brady, the right wing, finally got over wide on the right with six minutes to go to grab the winner and ensure Glasgow's feet remained on the ground.

Scorers

Glasgow: Tries – Grant, Evans, Gray 2; Cons - Weir.

Sale: Tries – Tuilagi, Forster, Brady; Pens – MacLeod, Miller; Con - MacLeod.

Glasgow: B Stortoni (capt); DTH van der Merwe, M Evans, R Dewey, F Arambaru; R Jackson, H Pyrgos; R Grant, F Thomson, M Low, A Muldowney, R Gray, R Wilson, C Fusaro, R Vernon.

Subs (all used): S Swindall, C Forrester, R Harley, P Horne, E Kalman, P MacArthur, M McConnell, P Murchie, C Shaw, K Tkachuk, D Weir, P Burke, A Dunbar.

Sale: P Williams; T Brady, F Mulchrone, N MacLeod, B Cohen; M James, D Peel; A Croall, N Briggs, K Wihongi, N Rouse, J Gaskell (capt), C Fearns, J Harris, S Koyamaibole.

Subs (all used): A Tuilagi, R Crane, R Miller, C Leck, J Forster, S McIntyre, N Briggs, M Jones, S Cox, W Lewaravu, D Seymour, K Ormsby.

Ref: N Paterson.

Att: 2290.