Premiership: London Irish 7-41 Sale Sharks

Akker van der Merwe crept over for Sale's first try at the Madejski Stadium

Sale ran in six tries in an emphatic victory at London Irish.

Akker van der Merwe, Denny Solomona, Marland Yarde, Josh Beaumont, Rob du Preez and Rohan Janse van Rensburg all crossed for the visitors.

Promoted Irish had a solitary converted try from Ruan Botha to show for their lacklustre performance.

Victory for Sale saw them bounce back from defeat by Gloucester while Irish were unable to build on their opening weekend win at Wasps.

• Gloucester 25-9 Wasps

• Northampton 35-16 Worcester

• Harlequins 22-17 Bristol

It was Sale's first Premiership away win since February while Irish's wait to record back-to-back top flight wins stretches back to April 2015, when they coincidentally beat Sale.

The Sharks were dominant throughout and were 20-0 up at the interval after Van der Merwe, Solomona and Yarde all crossed.

Beaumont, Rob du Preez and Van Rensburg made that lead even more emphatic as little went Irish's way throughout.

Sale have now won their past six matches against Irish in all competitions, stretching back to that April 2015 win in the Premiership for the Exiles.

London Irish director of rugby Declan Kidney told BBC Radio Berkshire:

"Give full credit to Sale, they controlled the game very well and it's about being able to adapt in those conditions which they did better.

"It's one of those days and you just have to learn to accept it and move on.

"We had the highs of last week and the lows of today, so we need to try and find the balance somewhere between those to focus the mind before our next game.

"Going to the champions Saracens next will focus the mind as every game is like a cup final this season."

Sale director of rugby Steve Diamond:

"We got a kick up the backside last week like we needed and I said at half-time I hope it's not a case of deja vu because London Irish are a real spirited side.

"Overall I think we played the conditions really well, the half-backs played well, Will Cliff kicked well, Rob du Preez]kicked to the corners well and the scrum showed we've got a dominant set piece and that's what you need in the pouring rain.

"The big thing for us is we've put a lot of investment into the team and if you stick to the plan, which didn't have to be flash today with the weather, then you can keep ticking the scoreboard over.

"The challenge in the Premiership to win away from home is fantastic, but if you get a bonus point that's even better."

London Irish: Parton; Loader, Rona, Hepetema, Hassell-Collins; Jackson, Steele; Hobbs-Awoyemi, Fainga'a, Hoskins, Nott, Botha, Rogerson, Cowan (capt), Tuisue.

Replacements: McMillan, Dell, Chawatama, F van der Merwe, Gilsenan, Meehan, Myler, Williams.

Sale: Hammersley; Solomona, S James, Van Rensburg, McGuigan; R du Preez, Cliff; Harrison, A van der Merwe, Oosthuizen, Beaumont, Evans, J-L du Preez, Ross (capt), D du Preez.

Replacements: Webber, Rodd, Cooper-Woolley, Phillips, B Curry, Papier, L James, Yarde.

Referee: Ian Tempest (RFU).

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