Worcester 14-18 Sale: Sending-off fails to scuttle win

Sale's Denny Solomona is tackled by Ryan Mills of Worcester

Sale overcame Byron McGuigan's sending-off to beat Worcester 18-14 on Friday and record their first away win in the Aviva Premiership since February.

The game was level when McGuigan departed in the second half after his second yellow card. And despite the hosts taking the lead from the resulting penalty, Mark Jennings crossed for a game-winning try with 10 minutes left.

Rohan Janse van Rensburg scored the visitors' other try, with AJ MacGinty adding two penalties and a conversion.

Josh Adams crossed for Worcester's try and Chris Pennell kicked nine points.

Sale made the better start as they capitalised on a poor first kick from Warriors fly-half Jono Lance which went straight into the hands of Denny Solomona. A resulting period of sustained pressure ended with a 10th-minute penalty from MacGinty.

Five minutes later, Sale extended their advantage when careless handling from the hosts saw McGuigan gather to allow van Rensburg to cross.

Jono Lance of Worcester is held up by Sale's Ben Curry

MacGinty failed with the conversion but the first 20 minutes continued to be dominated by Sale as the home side were lethargic and made numerous errors.

It was against the run of play when Worcester picked up their first points with a 26th-minute Pennell penalty.

From the restart, Pennell made a superb 50-metre run before McGuigan was yellow carded for deliberately knocking on the full-back's pass.

Worcester immediately capitalised on the wing's absence when a kick through for Pennell was misjudged by Sharks' full-back James O'Connor and Adams gathered possession to score.

Pennell missed the conversion before MacGinty succeeded with his second penalty to give his side a deserved 11-8 interval lead.

In the second half, the hosts got back on level terms while Sale scrum half Faf de Klerk was sin-binned for deliberately knocking down a Francois Hougaard pass.

Pennell landed a penalty in De Klerk's absence and the scores were level at 11-11 with less than 20 minutes remaining.

McGuigan was sent off in the 66th minute after collecting a second yellow card for a tip tackle on Bryce Heem.

Pennell kicked the resulting penalty to put Warriors in the lead for the first time in the contest.

But the lead did not last for long as replacement Jennings forced his way over in the corner to put his side in front before MacGinty fired over a splendid touchline conversion.