Leaders Bath end Sale's unbeaten home record

Ruaridh McConnochie went over for two tries as Bath came from behind to end Sale's unbeaten home record

Gallagher Premiership

Sale (16) 23

Tries: Reed, R du Preez, Carpenter Cons: R du Preez Pens: R du Preez 2

Bath (12) 32

Tries: McConnochie 2, Ojomoh, Carr-Smith Cons: Russell 3 Pens: Russell 2

Ruairidh McConnochie scored two tries as leaders Bath ended Sale Sharks' unbeaten home record with a bonus-point win at the Salford Community Stadium.

With Finn Russell in fine form with ball in hand, and with the boot, Johann van Graan's side came from 16-5 down to remain clear at the top and bounce back from last week's narrow loss to Northampton Saints.

Russell became the first player to pass the 100-point mark in the competition this season after Sale's great start produced tries from Arron Reed and Rob Du Preez.

Bath stayed in touch with McConnochie's double, and after the break exerted their forward power with Max Ojomoh and Tom Carr-Smith scoring tries before Joe Carpenter's score gave Sale late, forlorn hope.

Sale were even denied a losing bonus point by the final action of the match, as Russell kicked a penalty to open a nine-point gap between the sides.

In another blow for Sale, prop WillGriff John was forced off at half time after failing a head injury assessment, ruling him out of Wales' Six Nations' opener against France next week.

They hade been more than competitive in the first half, despite losing five of their first-choice pack to England call-ups, as they sought to extend an 11-match winning streak in their northern fortress.

The forwards powered the ball to within a metre of the posts and when Rob du Preez slung a long pass over the top, Reed showed his finishing ability by stepping inside the cover to score.

Du Preez added a penalty but after Louis Schreuder forced an error at the breakdown, Bath went onto the attack and McConnochie sprinted over out wide to close the gap.

Sale stormed forward again and when Tom O'Flaherty picked up Carpenter's grubber and was held up just short, du Preez picked up and darted over on the blindside, before adding another penalty, to put Sale clear again.

Bath struck back just before the break, with McConnochie again stretching away from the home defence, and Russell's conversion setting the match up nicely for the second half.

Bath were superb in the second 40 minutes, with Russell pulling the strings.

He seemed to have set up Ojomoh for a quick try, but the wing had juggled the ball against O'Flaherty's shoulder to knock on before diving over, with a video review chalking it off.

Eight minutes later, Bath cycled through 20 phases of attacking play and this time Russell's sweeping pass found Joe Cokanasiga and when he was stopped, Ojomoh powered over with two tacklers unable to stop him.

Russell's conversion and subsequent penalty took him past the century mark for the campaign, and then he produced a marvellous piece of quick thinking in a pivotal moment to turn a difficult moment into a 13-point lead.

Reed had shot through a rare Bath gap but when Sale were penalised at the breakdown, Russell quickly kicked the penalty long despite Sale claiming he had not done so from the mark.

Carr-Smith was on the fly-half's wavelength and sprinted the length of the field to kick on and score.

Carpenter barged his way over to make the last couple of minutes interesting but Russell had converted Carr-Smith's try and then added his late penalty to seal the win.

Post-match reaction

Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson said:

[On Russell not taking penalty from right mark to set up try] "That was the game. There were loads of opportunities when we could've taken the game away from them, but there was a 14-point swing there that I'm really struggling to get over.

"Honestly, I've got sour grapes. We'll go through due process, look at the tapes, but I don't have to look at them.

"There's a hand on the floor, the ball is kicked four, five metres past the mark, yet the try stands. That's the game, that's where it went."

Bath director of rugby Johann van Graan told BBC Radio Bristol:

"I'm very proud. It's the first time we've won here in a few years. It's the way we did it, especially in the first half against the wind, a real squad effort.

"Last week took a lot out of us so we've had a short week. I have so much respect for Sale but that long-range strike (from Carr-Smith) was a killer for them and to finish it off at the end with a penalty was a very good win for us.

"That's why he (Russell) is a special player, one of the best in the world.

[On McConnochie]. "I'm so pleased. He's one of the real squad men, works so hard, and it was brilliant by him."

Sale: Carpenter, O'Flaherty, Addison, Ma'asi-White, Reed, R du Preez, Warr, McIntyre, Caine, John, van Rhyn, Andrews, J-L du Preez, Dugdale, D. du Preez.

Replacements: McElroy, Onasanya, Raymont, Hill, Bamber, Thomas, Wills, Bedlow

Bath: de Glanville, Cokanasiga, Ojomoh, Butt, McConnochie, Russell, Schreuder, Obano, Annett, du Toit, Roux, Ewels, Bayliss, Reid, Barbeary

Replacements: Tuipolotu, van Wyk, Sela, Molony, Richards, Carr-Smith, Bailey, Coetzee

Referee: Karl Dixon