Gloucester held on to a 36-20 victory over Sale in a thrilling match at Kingsholm on January 4, 2025. Despite a dominant first half by Gloucester, Sale mounted a fierce comeback in the second, but Tomos Williams’s brilliant solo try in the dying moments sealed the win and put an end to their hopes of a dramatic turnaround.
The game started with Gloucester on fire, racing to a 22-3 lead in the first 30 minutes. They scored three tries in this period, showcasing some scintillating attacking rugby. The first try came after just five minutes, a remarkable display of handling and running from deep in their own 22. Santi Carreras finished off the move, linking up with Williams for the final pass, but it was Josh Hathaway’s run from deep that set the try in motion.
Gloucester’s second try came 15 minutes later from Max Llewellyn, who scored after a lineout, bursting through Sale’s midfield and stepping past Tommy O’Flaherty. They were soon back on the attack, and although Hathaway’s try was ruled out for a marginal forward pass, he quickly scored again, running to the corner after quick hands down the line. Carreras converted from the touchline to give Gloucester a commanding 22-3 lead.
However, Sale refused to back down and began to apply pressure in the final minutes of the first half. They were awarded a series of penalties, which they opted to kick to the corner, and this eventually led to their first try. A lineout drive resulted in captain Ben Curry scoring just as the first half ended. Gloucester’s discipline was a concern, as they gave away nearly 20 penalties in the match, but Sale had only managed to convert one of their chances.
The second half saw Sale come out with renewed determination. They capitalized on Gloucester’s indiscipline, with two yellow cards handed to the hosts. The first of these came to Mayco Vivas, and Sale took full advantage, driving from a lineout to score their second try through Luke Cowan-Dickie, who peeled off the front of the maul.
At this point, Sale seemed poised to complete the comeback. But Gloucester’s defense held firm, and Llewellyn’s second try, following an interception by Lewis Ludlow, provided the hosts with much-needed breathing space. Sale responded quickly, with Tom Roebuck scoring their third try four minutes later, but a missed conversion kept them nine points adrift.
With the game still in the balance, Williams delivered the decisive blow. A clever chip and chase in the dying minutes saw him cross the line for Gloucester’s fourth try, effectively putting the game out of Sale’s reach. The win keeps Gloucester in the hunt for a playoff spot, and they will take great confidence from their early dominance and ability to weather Sale’s second-half pressure.
For Sale, it was a frustrating defeat after their strong second-half performance. Despite the absence of key players like scrum-half Raffi Quirke and fly-half George Ford, they showed resilience, but their inability to stop Gloucester’s early onslaught ultimately cost them the game. The match was a reminder of the unpredictability of Premiership rugby, where a big lead can quickly evaporate, but Gloucester’s clinical finishing ensured they held on for a crucial victory.
