Lobbe stars as Sharks bite
Captain Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe scored two first-half tries as Sale crossed five times in a 36-6 victory over Montauban.
Last Updated: 06/12/08 1:18pm
Captain Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe scored two first-half tries as Sale crossed five times in a 36-6 victory over Montauban in Pool One of the Heineken Cup.
The Argentina back-rower scored as early as the fifth minute against their French opponents and added a second on 23 minutes, while Andy Tuilagi, Eifion Roberts and David Tait all added second-half tries.
Sale's physical superiority proved to be key and it was Lobbe who came up with the ball after a surge under the posts with Charlie Hodgson adding the easiest of extras.
Fly-half Cedric Rosalen kicked a 10th minute drop goal to keep the visitors within range but Hodgson and Welsh scrum-half Dwayne Peel were soon calling the shots behind a dominant pack.
A series of promising moves came to nil but when Hodgson put through a charging Lobbe it was no more than they deserved, although the stand-off could not add the conversion this time from wide on the right.
Missed chance
Rosalen failed to convert an opportunity after Rory Lamont had been penalised for failing to release and made a similar mistake on 33 minutes.
Hodgson made him pay with a three-pointer to send Sharks in 15-3 to the good at half time.
Rosalen finally hit the mark eight minutes into the second half but that was as good as it got, Lamont breaking through five minutes later before offloading to Lobbe, who ushered Tuilagi over from close range.
Roberts crashed over after the hour mark - Hodgson converting both scores - as Sale turned their dominance into a convincing lead.
Young replacement Tait found space for the fifth score and the former England fly-half knocked over the kick, handing Sale their second win in three Heineken Cup outings and giving them a psychological edge over their opponents ahead of next week's reverse fixture.
