London Welsh caused a shock in their first taste of the top flight, beating Sale 31-19 in the opening match of the J.P. Morgan 7's
London Welsh caused a shock in their first taste of the top flight, beating Sale 31-19 in the opening match of the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby 7s Series second leg at Edgeley Park.
The home side were saying goodbye to the old ground before a move to the Salford City Stadium, but the Exiles hadn't read the script, racing in five tries.
London Welsh suffocated the Sharks early on in defence and grabbed the first score when Peceli Nacamavuto burst through, before offloading to Chris Banfield who went under the posts and converted his own try.
Sale's first attack came from a searing run by Will Addison but after the ball had been turned over Ben Seru sprinted down the right wing to score in the corner.
The Exiles' flying start had clearly taken Sale by surprise but they got back in it when winger Charlie Amesbury went over on the left, Will Cliff's conversion drifting wide as Welsh led 12-5.
But Welsh meant business and crossed for a third try of the half, Seru again the man to go over the whitewash thanks to Banfield's pop pass, the full-back adding the conversion for good measure for a 19-5 half-time lead.
After the break it was the home side who made the faster start, spreading the ball wide for scrum-half Cliff to shake off a couple of tackles before dotting down under the posts.
But just as in the first half, Welsh reacted in style, Iolo Evans producing a lovely spin out of a tackle before finding skipper Michael Hills for the bonus point score.
In a pulsating clash it was the Sharks who hit back next with Samoan centre Johnny Leota showing great strength and balance to break through, Cliff converted to make it 24-19.
The next score was always going to be vital and it was the Exiles who got it, Banfield on the end of an inside ball and strolling over unchallenged to seal the win.
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