Mark Cueto scores on his final home appearance for Sale
Last Updated: 09/05/15 5:28pm
Mark Cueto scored on his final home game in a Sale shirt as they recorded a thrilling 34-28 Aviva Premiership victory over Newcastle at the AJ Bell Stadium.
The Sharks controlled the majority of the first half and forged a 24-11 interval lead through Chris Cusiter, Cueto and Sam Tuitupou tries, as well as nine points from the boot of Danny Cipriani.
The Falcons' response came via Adam Powell's touchdown and two Rory Clegg penalties but, despite another Clegg three-pointer in the second period, the Sharks appeared to have secured the win through Dave Seymour's effort.
However, Richard Mayhew and Juan Pablo Socino went over late on to give the visitors hope, although TJ Ioane's try for the hosts kept them at arm's length.
Sale went into the game with just a slim chance of qualifying for the European Champions Cup due to Gloucester's victory in the Challenge Cup.
Steve Diamond’s men started brightly, testing the Newcastle defence early on, but a deserved yellow card for a tip-tackle by Tommy Taylor saw them reduced to 14 men after two minutes.
Unperturbed by that setback, the hosts continued to attack for the second time and scored a superb try as Cusiter profited from Josh Beaumont's scything break.
The Falcons produced an excellent response, their forwards continually getting over the gain line and that opened the space for Powell to go through a gaping hole.
Dean Richards' men could not maintain that momentum once Taylor returned to the field and it was Sale who assumed command and put together another well-worked score.
It resulted in Cueto - who will finish his career next weekend at Exeter after 15 years with the Sharks - going over as he finished a move which began with Tom Arscott breaking the gainline and ended in Tom Brady unselfishly feeding the experienced winger.
Clegg reduced Newcastle’s deficit to six points but that was as close as they got. The Sharks simply lifted the intensity once more and touched down for their third try through Tuitupou's close-range effort to end the half 24-11 in front.
Clegg kicked his third penalty after the restart but Sale soon had their fourth try when good work from Arscott allowed Seymour to touch down for the decisive score.
That looked to have ended the visitors' chances of coming back into the encounter, but back-rower Mayhew kept Newcastle in the contest by crossing the whitewash.
Ioane's try gave Diamond's men some breathing space before Socino went over to produce an exciting finish, but the Sharks held on.