WARRIORS.
8 Shillcock – switching to full-back for the cup clash the fly-half created the first try with a brilliant break and always looked a threat with ball in hand. He kicked well too.
7 Heem – did not see as much of the ball as Adams but it took a number of Sale players to stop him when he did get hold of it and started driving forward.
7 Lawrence – after a shaky start with a knock-on the outside centre got stuck in and was at the heart of some good moves, notably linking up brilliantly with Venter for his try.
8 VENTER – is really hitting his straps at Warriors following his summer switch from Cheetahs as he made numerous metres and crossed the whitewash after unlocking Sale’s defence. My man of the match.
8 Adams – looks in fine fettle ahead of Wales' autumn internationals as his pace and footwork proved a real handful for Sale. He also scored the opener.
6 Weir – continues to impress from the tee as he landed all four of his kicks at goal but lacked accuracy at times with his distribution and let his frustration show.
7 Hougaard – was committed as ever in defence and helped himself to a try from close range but looked a tad rusty as his passing and kicking were not as on point as usual.
6 Black – a few too many mistakes from the loosehead prop who was among those players that returned after a 10-day break but scrummaged well.
6 Singleton – fronted up in defence but offered Sale’s only points of the game when he was penalised at a ruck and saw the odd lineout throw go astray.
7 Mudariki – making his first-team debut, the tighthead prop made his presence felt with some strong carries before going off with a suspected neck issue.
6 Bresler – was involved in several aerial battles at the lineout but his evening was also cut short after failing a head injury assessment on 53 minutes.
7 Phillips – went over from a driving maul for only his second try for the club but while he put pressure on Sale at lineout Warriors’ set-piece was far from perfect.
7 Cox – a mixed bag from the back rower who gave Worcester plenty of front-foot ball but squandered a chance to score when he knocked on and was yellow carded late on.
6 Lewis – refused to hold back against a young side but did not have as big of an influence on the game as usual and his opposition number Curry was one of Sale’s star men.
7 van Velze – stole a couple of Sale lineouts and was effective in the loose, smashing forward on several occasions but lost his temper in the second half as Worcester’s penalty count rose.
Replacements: Milasinovich 6 (Mudariki 33), Bower 6 (Black 45), Barry 6 (Phillips 45 [Bresler 53]), Annett 6 (Singleton 51), Humphreys 6 (Weir 55), Heaney 6 (Hougaard 55), Olivier (Venter 64), Williams (Lewis 68).
Attendance: 6,606.
Referee: A Leal.
Sharks: Reed; Roebuck, Doherty, James, Odogwu (N Pope 76); Wilkinson, Warr (Sturgess 62); Bristow (J Pope 76), Langdon (Dolly 62), Tarus (Jones 56), Nott (Birch 76), Ostrikov (Postlethwaite 56), Dugdale (Leatherbarrow 60), Curry (c) Beaumont. Not used: Curtis.
RUN OF PLAY.
5-0: Adams try, 5mins.
7-0: Weir conv, 6mins.
7-3: Wilkinson penalty, 16mins.
12-3: Hougaard try, 27mins.
14-3: Weir conv, 28mins.
19-3: Venter try, 32mins.
21-3: Weir conv, 33mins.
Half-time: Worcester Warriors 21-3 Sale Sharks.
26-3: Phillips try, 54mins.
28-3: Weir conv, 55mins.
33-3: Williams try, 76mins.
35-3: Shillcock conv, 77mins.
Full-time: Worcester Warriors 35-3 Sale Sharks.
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