David Simmonds:, external Bath have been over-reliant on Tom Homer's long range bombers since he signed. Lets get back to off the top ball, fast paced rugby #bbcrugby

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It's not been one for the purists this, has it?

Tom Homer's two penalties has Bath ahead, but given the amount of possession and territory they've enjoyed I reckon they're more likely to be talking about the points they've left out there at half-time.

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Tom Bradshaw
BBC Sport at The Rec

"Sale's strategy seems to be pretty negative. They are trying to slow down Bath's pack by fair means or foul - and the nine penalties they've given away so far suggests there's a lot of the latter. Mercifully for the visitors, Tom Homer's kicking has been inconsistent for Bath so far."

"Bath played that first half with three players having filled in at fly-half. Ollie Devoto is wearing 10 on his back, but Kyle Eastmond is frequently popping up at first receiver when Bath have possession.

"And when Sale have an attacking set-piece, it's Sam Burgess who's stepping into the 10 channel. That lack of a consistent general at fly-half is one reason why Bath are looking disjointed and why they haven't capitalised on all their possession."

We're going to have a couple of scrums to end the first half, Sale with the put-in.

As it happens, Bath actually get a real shove on, but the Sharks just about retrieve the ball and Chris Cusiter launches it into the stands as soon as referee Wayne Barnes bellows "time".

David Wilson
Bath and England prop on BBC Radio Bristol

Image source, Getty Images

"The teams are just feeling each other out. There's been a lot of kicking tennis. But I feel like we've messed up on two crucial line-outs that haven't helped us.

"(Bath replacement) Kane Palma-Newport is a quality player, he's had opportunities to go to other clubs but he's a Bath boy through and through and it's great to have him here. He's got 50 appearances for us, been second-team captain and I'm glad he's stayed."

That's not so good from Homer, albeit from a tight angle, and he sends it wide of the posts.

But the Blue, Black and Whites just can't seem to piece things together as we know they so brilliantly can. A knock-on gives Sale the put-in at the scrum.

It's a terrific drive from the Bath pack, however, and they'll have another penalty! It looks like Stuart Hooper has had quite enough of heading for the corner too, and so the ball is back in the hands of Tom Homer.

The hosts certainly seem to have got themselves on the right side of referee Wayne Barnes, with two penalties conceded by Sale in quick succession allowing them to move their way up the field. The penalty count is up to seven from the Sharks now.

Image source, Getty Images

That'll do Danny Cipriani no harm whatsoever. Now it's Bath's turn to give away a cheap penalty from the kick forward and, despite being a fair way out, Cipriani's kick is rather better than his last one and Sale are off the mark.

After his early miss, that's a second successful effort from Homer and Bath are 6-0 ahead when. In truth, it really should've been 3-3 just a few moments previous.

That's not a great two minutes for Sale, I think it's fair to say. Sharks full-back Mike Haley spills the restart, the away side infringe at the scrum and Tom Homer has an opportunity to put his side six points ahead...

And from the rolling maul Stuart Hooper, Bath's captain, gives away a penalty.

But, oh dear, Sale fly-half Danny Cipriani has not had his finest moment from the tee there. David Beckhamesque, he slips as he strikes the ball and the home side get away with it.

Image source, PA

One thing is for sure, however, and that's that Sale have worked themselves back into this match despite not seeing a huge amount of the ball inside the opening 12 minutes or so.

They have a line-out and the rolling maul takes them beyond the Bath 22-metre line.

Fantastic scrummaging from Sale, who'd knocked on deep inside their own half but dig themselves out of a hole by winning the ball against the head. Still difficult to see which pack are enjoying superiority at the set-piece.

The Sharks have the ball in hand now though, moving it from right to left, but Johnny Leota is shoved brilliantly into touch and it comes to nothing for the visitors.

David Wilson
Bath and England prop on BBC Radio Bristol

Henry Thomas is not in a great way and is taken off for Kane Palma-Newport with injury.

"Henry Thomas is really struggling," said Wilson. "Hopefully he'll recover from that, but it looks like his neck."

On Bath's injury crisis: "We're starting to run a little bit thin, we've got a couple of young guys coming through, but we need to keep our players fit."

That's more like it - Tom Homer splits the posts and Bath are ahead.

They're certainly the side who have been asking all the questions in the opening quarter, with Sale making 41 tackles to Bath's six so far.

Image source, PA

Mike Ford's side are just starting to find their groove here, Sam Burgess offloading under a challenge for his first meaningful contribution. It's another infringement at the breakdown though and this should be slightly easier for Tom Homer.