Atkinson scored twice as Gloucester claimed a 21-15 victory over Sale.
Charlie Atkinson’s try in the 76th minute secured back-to-back wins for Gloucester, following their previous triumph over Exeter Chiefs.
**Gloucester (7) 21**
Tries: Loader, C Atkinson 2
Conversions: Barton 3
**Sale (12) 15**
Tries: Longstaff, O’Flaherty
Conversions: Ford
Drop-goal: Ford
Gloucester mounted a comeback to defeat Sale Sharks 21-15 at Kingsholm, earning their first consecutive Premiership wins of the season.
Sale started strongly with Alfie Longstaff crossing early and Tom O’Flaherty racing away for a breakaway try, putting the visitors 12-0 ahead. Ben Loader’s response was the least Gloucester deserved for their attacking intent.
The hosts lost Wales scrum-half Tomos Williams to a shoulder injury early in the second half, but Charlie Atkinson’s close-range finish and George Barton’s conversion quickly turned the tide. George Ford’s 45-meter drop-goal put Sale back in front at 15-14, but Atkinson powered over for his second try with four minutes remaining to seal the win.
This fourth league victory of the season boosts Gloucester’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s European Champions Cup, giving them a nine-point cushion over ninth-placed Harlequins, who face bottom side Newcastle Red Bulls on Sunday.
Sale capitalized on a bright start when a swift backs move found Tom Roebuck, who accelerated down the wing and delivered an over-the-shoulder pass to the charging Longstaff, who slid over the line.
Matias Alemanno thought he had leveled the score after Barton was stopped inches short following a slick move, but TMO Dean Richards spotted a knock-on as the Argentina lock grounded the ball. Afo Fasogbon was then held up over the line, but Sale absorbed the pressure before striking with a classic counter-attack when a loose Gloucester pass was intercepted and O’Flaherty sprinted under the posts from inside his own half.
More frustration followed for the hosts as they were twice held up over the line after Williams’ superb 50:22, foiled by fine defensive work from Jacques Vermeulen. However, all that possession and attacking flair paid off when Loader barged between two defenders and carried a third over the line to score.
The home side suffered a significant blow after the break when Williams was forced off with a shoulder problem following a heavy collision. But the one-way traffic continued as Val Rapava-Ruskin was stopped inches short before Atkinson darted in from close range after another dominant scrum.
Arthur Clark’s try was disallowed for Will Trenholm’s forward scoring pass, keeping Sale just two points behind heading into the final quarter. The visitors had barely left their own half, but Gloucester’s lack of cutting edge was punished when Ford’s superb drop-goal put Sale back in front at 15-14 with just seven minutes left.
Yet Max Llewellyn’s burst into the Sale 22 and quick ruck ball allowed Atkinson to run in unopposed for his second try, preventing a smash-and-grab win for the visitors.
**Reaction**
Gloucester head coach George Skivington told BBC Radio Gloucestershire: “There were a lot of line breaks and a lot of opportunities and a lot of dominance up front. From that point of view we probably couldn’t have asked for more in those areas, but our handling definitely let us down today. Some of our defence today was heroic and our scramble defence was outstanding, but we definitely could have scored a handful more tries had we been more clinical. I thought Sale fought hard and kept themselves in the fight, but our lads kept fighting as well.”
