Sale Sharks v Bristol Bears | Matchday Programme

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THE GALLAGHER WAY. SINCE 1927.

ALEX SANDERSON

DIRECTOR OF RUGBY

A WORD FROM THE AXE

WELCOME BACK TO THE AJ BELL STADIUM FOR OUR FIRST PREMIERSHIP GAME IN THREE WEEKS. AFTER A COUPLE OF REALLY FRUSTRATING DEFEATS AGAINST QUINS AND SARRIES IT WAS GREAT TO GET BACK TO WINNING WAYS AGAINST GLOUCESTER AND EVERYONE WANTS TO PICK UP TODAY WHERE WE LEFT OFF AGAINST A REALLY GOOD, DANGEROUS BRISTOL TEAM.

Can I extend a big northern welcome to Pat Lam, his coaches and everyone from Bristol Bears. We’ve had some fantastic tussles against Pat’s teams over the last couple of years, both in the Premiership and the Champions Cup, and I have no doubt today will be just as tough.

We’ve also got a familiar face in AJ MacGinty making his first trip back to the AJ Bell as an opposition player. AJ was a really popular lad with everyone at the club, and I know he was a big favourite with all of you too so I have no doubt he’ll get the welcome he deserves.

Today is our first league fixture for a few weeks, but the lads have been in Premiership Cup action. I handed the reigns over to Gareth Harris for last week’s pool game against Quins but I was at the stadium watching, and I was over the moon to see the team put in such a strong performance.

Rouban Birch won player of the

match, Kieran Wilkinson was electric when he came on in the second half, and Sam Dugdale led the team superbly, and all three are involved today. We always talk about the importance of having one, united squad, and these Premiership Cup games are opportunities for some of these lads to put their hands up and show that they’re ready. They deserve their chance today.

We feel like we’re in a really good place as a squad at the moment. We felt in pre-season that if we got the intensity and the nature of training right then we could hit the ground running and that’s what we did. Obviously there’s a necessity to be battle-hardened and match-fit and that’s why over the past few weeks we’ve opted to keep the lads fresh physically and mentally rather than keep them playing as some teams have chosen.

After the Gloucester game we had quite a few lads carrying knocks

and only time will tell if we’ve got it right. We’ll know after today’s game if that two week rest has been the right way to go but we all feel good, we’ve trained well and feel tight and everyone is crystal clear on the game model and tactics for this weekend.

We welcome a couple of lads back from injury this week in Cobus Wiese, Si McIntyre and Akker van der Merwe. Ben Curry is still a week or so away and Tom O’Flaherty is recovering well from his surgery on his broken jaw. Flats is a ball of energy and after a few quiet weeks after the plate went in he’s back at his chirpy best around the training ground. Can’t wait to see him back in action before too long.

My last word this week is for Sam James, who plays his 200th game for the club today. Sam has been a fantastic servant to this club and the fact he’s played every game this season tells you how highly I rate him. He’s a brilliant player, an even

better guy and I know you’ll join me today in congratulating him on reaching this milestone. No doubt he’ll put on a performance to mark the occasion.

Enjoy the game, Al

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After starting the season at his rampaging best, hooker Akker van der Merwe could have been forgiven for thinking he’d made the Sharks number two shirt his own. But the powerful 31-year-old, who joined Sale in 2019, has seen enough of teammates Tommy Taylor and Ewan Ashman to know that was never going to be the case.

That stunning start to the 2022/23 season was stopped in its tracks when the ‘Angry Warthog’ picked up a potentially serious ankle injury at the end of the home clash with London Irish in October. But after six weeks on the sidelines, Akker is back, and he’s ready to pick up where he left off.

“Honestly, I did think the injury was going to be a serious one when it first happened,” he said . “It was really sore and I know that with the way I twisted, it could have been much worse.

“Competition for places, particularly at hooker, is massive here and that worry about whether you’ll get your place back is in the back of your mind. But we’re a really tight squad and the important thing

“I’ve been at clubs where the competition for places has made the atmosphere pretty negative but that’s not the case here. We all help each other and support each other to make sure the team is as good as it can be.

“We have a lot of hookers at the club and I’m a bit older and have a bit more experience than guys like Ewan Ashman, Ethan Caine and Harry Thompson, so I know I have a responsibility to help those guys as much as I can.

“I talk a lot with Ewan in particular about the game and I think we have a really good relationship. He calls me dad!

“He always wants to learn and I never feel like I have to force anything on him. He’s come through the academy here and he’s gone on to play for Scotland and I really feel like he has the potential to become one of the world’s very best hookers in the next couple of years.”

Akker’s absence coincided with two defeats for Alex’s men, but after

getting back on track with a win against Gloucester, the former Cell C Sharks man says the team are ready to make a big push for the big trophies.

And he hopes a strong second half of the season could help him force his way back into the mix for a Springboks call-up.

“The team is in a really good place,” he said. “We had a couple of hiccups against Harlequins and Saracens where we felt that maybe we’d gone back to playing how we played last season.

“But those defeats might be a good thing in the end because they showed us how far we have come in the last couple of years. I think the biggest difference is that everyone has completely bought into what we’re trying to do. Everyone is on the same page, and everyone

understands our gameplan.

“When we analysed those two losses, we could see how we went away from what we had been doing.

“Playing for the Springboks again is a big dream of mine and I’d love to be involved in the World Cup next year. It’s still a big motivation for me but I know that will only happen if I’m playing well for Sale.

“All my focus is on winning some silverware with Sale. We have so much talent in this team and we all feel like we have a real shot at achieving something special this season.”

And what of the ‘Angry Warthog’ moniker?

“I hated it at first,” he added. “But it has really grown on me. In fact, the warthog is now my favourite animal!”

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PLAY LIKE THE PROS

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SAM JAMES

FROM THE SHARK TANK

Premiership rugby is back with a bang! After a rest week and a Prem Rugby Cup victory over Quins for a side packed with academy talent, it’s all attention back to an important Premiership game before we go into another rest week and then on to Europe. It’s a bit of a one-off game therefore and a result is all important to keep Sale in the hunt for the top four.

The Gloucester game was a well needed victory with an excellent first half punctuated by three tries, Sale showing a clinical edge and setting up for a potential repeat of the 57 point thrashing we delivered a few years ago. Joe Carpenter continues to etch his name onto the 15 shirt, and genuinely can’t stop scoring. Backed up by a good rolling maul and a thrilling Ben Curry try from broken play, it felt a sure thing at half time.

Of course this is Sale Sharks, so we then spent the next 40 minutes with backs to the wall and showing that Mike Forshaw is probably the best defensive coach in the country. The heart shown in that second half was exceptional and could well be an important point in the season. Perhaps Sale of old would have thrown that

one away, but this team kept Gloucester at bay sufficiently and took the sensible points later on to deny a top four rival any consolation bonus points. We could bring up the fact Sale missed out on a 4th try, but frankly being six from eight in the league and a comfortable second for now is far too rare and exciting an occurrence for us to be worrying about that.

OUR WEEKLY GUEST SPOT FROM THE PODCASTING SUPERFANS OVER AT THE SHARK TANK, THE NORTHERN POWERHOUSE OF RUGBY PODCASTING, WITH A DETAILED, IRREVERENT AND OCCASSIONALLY CYNICAL LOOK AT ALL THINGS SALE SHARKS.

Keeping ourselves in contention for the league, we moved on to the Prem Rugby Cup against Quins. Despite toiling somewhat in the first half, Sale broke free in the second and delivered an ultimately comfortable win to take us to the semi-finals. Kieran Wilkinson really added some impetus when he came on and exploited a tired Quins defence, but it would be remiss not to mention that Tom Curtis had set the platform, and it’s great to see those two (who could well be the future of Sale’s 10/12 axis) working together again at this level.

On then to Bristol who are coming off a massive game at Ashton Gate last Thursday against a South Africa ‘A’ side – a great initiative and hopefully something Sale will be able to replicate once we have control of our stadium. To get over 26,000 people in on a Thursday night is a fantastic achievement and certainly something for the club to aspire to.

On the field it’s been a more difficult season for Bristol but with the momentum from that South Africa game they could be a really dangerous proposition for a Sale team coming off a two week rest period. As always it will be an exciting and expansive game we’ll have to try and contain, but one which we know we can counter. Add to that a potential subplot of MacGinty v Du Preez to come, it should be an exciting watch and hopefully continue our march on to top four!

Enjoy the game!

Alex, James and Lewis

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SHARKS STAR WINS TOP AWARD AT PREMIERSHIP RUGBY HITZ AWARDS 2022

A highlight of the Premiership Rugby calendar, the achievements of 12 outstanding individuals were recognised at the emotional ceremony hosted by former England and London Irish Winger Topsy Ojo and attended by Professional players and community staff from across the Premiership.

This recognises and rewards a young person who, by overcoming a range of challenges, has worked the hardest to progress on their journey back to education, training or employment.

Bunni joined HITZ disillusioned with

education, believing there was no support for her to gain qualifications in a mainstream setting.

SALE SHARKS’ BUNNI LEDWARDS WAS PRESENTED WITH THE YOUNG ACHIEVER AWARD, SUPPORTED BY WOODEN SPOON.

She arrived at HITZ lacking self-esteem, self-worth and confidence.

After starting on the programme, Bunni started to slowly increase her engagement in learning as she recognised those around her were there to support her. With this support she found the courage to visit her GP to address her declining mental health. In time she felt strong enough to complete work placements with the Sale West Community Shop and Food Bank. With support from a mentor, a pathway to employment became clear to her and more importantly she had the confidence to take the next step. Bunni worked with one of Sale Sharks Foundation’s employment partners, OCS and secured a customer service role with the organisation.

Bunni now aspires for similar outcomes in her personal life

too. She plans for independence by learning to drive and by seeking a safe supportive relationship. Her courage, alongside an understanding of the impact of asking for help, meant her life turned a corner and she continues to take steps towards a happy fulfilled life.

Bunni Ledwards, Sale Sharks winner of the Young Achiever Award, said: ‘’Winning this award is both amazing and exhilarating. I’ve never won anything in my life so to be able to make my mum proud by winning this tonight is so special. It feels good to know that my hard work and effort has been noticed by everyone at HITZ. I love how much the staff with Sale Sharks HITZ’ programme cares and this award motivates me more than ever to add new skills to my achievements.’’

To read the full story: CLICK here

BUNNI LEDWARDS

Sale Sharks winner of the Young Achiever Award

SHARKS

RISING STAR

Courtney said, ‘I am so proud, it was definitely out of the blue, but it was a great surprise, just being nominated and attending the awards I was so honoured’.

The army has released Courtney to develop her professional rugby career here at Sharks. So far this season, she has been a great asset to the club scoring tries on her Sharks debut and Prem 15s debut, just last week.

She is one to watch this season Sharks Family!

HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO SALE SHARKS WOMEN’S COURTNEY PURSGLOVE WHO RECEIVED THE RISING STAR RUNNER UP AWARD AT THE 2022 BRITISH ARMY SPORTS AWARDS THIS MONTH.

A BIG FIVE POINTER FOR SHARKS WOMEN

31-12

What an opener it was, as Georgie Perris-Redding returned from international duty to co-captain #YourSharks with Lauren Delany and both Alycia Washington and Courtney Pursglove getting their first Prem 15s tries!

Catching up with Georgie after the game she said , ‘We’ve been working hard all week and we achieved what wanted, it was hard at times, but we pulled through together. We’ve such a young talented player pool coming through, they are bringing a new wave of energy and It’s been amazing to work with them. From that performance we know we can be better and that’s good because we’ve got things to work on to come back stronger next week”.

Catch up on all the match action here

SALE SHARKS WOMEN KICK STARTED THEIR ALLIANZ PREM 15 s SEASON WITH A BONUS POINT WIN OVER DMP SHARKS LAST WEEKEND.

NEXT UP AT THE CORPACQ STADIUM

T A L

T

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E N T F O R T O D A Y ,

O M O R R O W & T H E F U T U R E

WELCOME

YOUR SHARKS

FORWARDS

GEORGE ARNOLD

ROUBAN BIRCH

BEN BAMBER

EWAN ASHMAN

ETHAN CAINE

JOSH BEAUMONT

DOM BARROW

BEN CARLILE

PATREECE BELL

ELLIS CAUSEY

HUW DAVIES

JAMES HARPER

SAM DUGDALE

BEN CURRY

DAN DU PREEZ

ROSS HARRISON

CAL FORD

TOM CURRY

JEAN-LUC DU PREEZ

JONNY HILL

ALEX GROVES

JOE JONES

YANDE NKONGE

JONO ROSS

MATT POSTLETHWAITE

SIMON MCINTYRE

TUMY ONASANYA

NICK SCHONERT

WILL RILEY

EWAN MURPHY

COENIE OOSTHUIZEN

TOMMY TAYLOR

BEVAN RODD

BACKS

HARRY THOMPSON

TRISTAN WOODMAN

CONNOR DOHERTY

JOE CARPENTER

AKKER VAN DER MERWE

ROB DU PREEZ

WILL CLIFF

COBUS WIESE

JOE BEDLOW

GEORGE FORD

TOM CURTIS

ELLIOT GOURLAY

SAM JAMES

ARRON REED

TOM O’FLAHERTY

SAM HILL

BYRON MCGUIGAN

TOM ROEBUCK

AARON POPE

LUKE JAMES

BEN MOTAMED

JOE SIMPSON

RAFFI QUIRKE

NYE THOMAS

CHARLIE WARDLE

MANU TULAGI

KIERAN WILKINSON

GUS WARR

JASON WOODWARD

AS CAPABLE ON -ROAD AS OFF IT

Official Fuel Consumption Figures for the Defender 110 in mpg (I/100km): Combined 113.0-18.7 (2.5-15.1). CO2 Emissions For comparison purposes only. Real world figures may differ. CO2, fuel economy, energy consumption and range figures Off-road sequences on dedicated land with full permissions.

Emissions 57-340 g/km. The figures provided are as a result of official manufacturer’s tests in accordance with EU legislation. may vary according to factors such as driving styles, environmental conditions, load, wheel fitment and accessories fitted.