Sale Sharks' defeat at Worcester Warriors is bitter pill for Bryan Redpath

Sale boss Bryan Redpath struggled to conceal his sense of frustration after the Sharks suffered a seventh successive Aviva Premiership defeat, going down 23-16 at Worcester.

"I am bitterly disappointed," rugby director Redpath said. "We had enough territory and possession to have won the game, but the facts are that we didn't. I thought it was a game we should have won."

Sale laid siege inside Worcester's 22 during the closing minutes, going through phase after phase before wing Will Addison was denied by Worcester scrum-half Paul Hodgson's brilliant try-saving tackle.

Redpath added: "A yellow card for persistent (Worcester) infringement was an option at the end, but when you need a bit of luck and a bit of something going your way...

"We have to look at our own actions as well, and there were certain opportunities that we did not capitalise on. Ross Harrison and Tommy Taylor were outstanding for a 19 and 20-year-old in the front-row.

"I am bitterly disappointed. We had enough territory and possession to have won the game, but the facts are that we didn't. I thought it was a game we should have won."
Bryan Redpath

"I thought they were our two best players, and credit to them. I think a lot of the older players should have a look at how those two youngsters performed in a game where it was all about a bit of guts."

Warriors head coach Richard Hill admitted it had not been a vintage display from his side.

"We looked rusty tonight," he said. "We have not really been tested in the Amlin Challenge Cup over the past two weeks, whereas Sale were a bit more battle-hardened, having come off Heineken Cup games against Cardiff Blues and Montpellier.

"We played a lot of rugby in our own half and caused quite a few problems for ourselves. We weren't at our best by any means, but we just had enough to repel Sale at the end."

"Sale had a lot of pressure in our 22, and you have got to put those chances away. There was some heroic defence, epitomised by Paul Hodgson's tackle at the end.

"It was a massive game for Sale. They had to win this one, really. They are staring down the barrel at the moment, and they threw absolutely everything at us, but we just had enough."