Mercier kick saves Gloucester

Sale 30-30 Gloucester

Mercier's kicking was the key for Gloucester

Gloucester fly-half Ludovic Mercier landed a late touchline conversion to salvage a draw in the top-of-the-table clash with Sale.

Mercier held his nerve after Jake Boer had forced his way over the line with just two minutes to go.

The draw means Gloucester must wait to book their place in the Zurich Premiership play-offs.

But it keeps the Cherry and Whites 10 points clear of Sale in the race for the title.

You're not giving enough respect to Sale if you you think something went wrong today

Gloucester boss Nigel Melville

Sale started hesitantly but were the first to get points on the board as Jos Baxendall kicked two penalties.

Gloucester replied with a penalty of their own before taking the lead, against the run of play, as Mercier outpaced England's Jason Robinson to touch down.

Sale, however, reclaimed the lead when flanker Peter Anglesea got on the end of a pinpoint pass from captain Bryan Redpath.

MATCH FACTS

Sale (11) 30
Tries: Anglesea, Hanley, Robinson, Cueto
Cons: Baxendell 2
Pens: Baxendell 2

Gloucester (10) 30
Tries: Mercier, Fanolua, Boer
Cons: Mercier 3
Pens: Mercier 3

After the interval Mercier briefly pushed Gloucester back into the lead, but the Sharks got back on top when winger Steve Hanley shrugged off a tackle to touch down.

Baxendell added the extras and then some sublime skills from Robinson saw the Sharks improve their advantage as the England full-back danced between two Gloucester defenders before sprinting over.

The sin-binning of Cherry and Whites skipper Jake Boer for diving on the ball had aided Sale's cause.

I'm very proud of them - three points is a good step towards being in the play-offs

Sale head coach Jim Mallinder

But Boer's return heralded the beginning of the visitors' fightback.

Terry Fanolua touched down in the corner to round-off a magnificent move which had stretched Sale's defence to breaking point, and Mercier slotted the conversion to complement his penalty shortly before.

But there was still life left in what was proving to be a real see-saw encounter, Mark Cueto accepting Baxendell's pass before touching down for a try which the latter improved.

Boer then crossed in the corner with time running out and Mercier kicked the conversion to grab a share of the spoils.

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Sale: Robinson, Cueto, Harris, Bond, Hanley, Baxendell, Redpath, Yates, Titterell, Stewart, Schofield, Fullarton, Anglesea, Pinkerton, C. Jones. Replacements: Marais, Thorp, Turner, Davies, Lund, Going, Walshe.

Gloucester: Delport, Simpson-Daniel, Fanolua, Paul, Garvey, Mercier, Gomarsall, Woodman, Azam, Deacon, Fidler, Eustace, Boer, Hazell, Forrester. Replacements: Stuart-Smith, Amor, Todd, Fortey, Roncero, Buxton, Pearce.

Referee: Tony Spreadbury (RFU).