Aviva Premiership

Sale Sharks 13

Gloucester 26

GREIG LAIDLAW kicked 16 points as Gloucester secured their first victory of the Aviva Premiership season with a 26-13 triumph over Sale at the AJ Bell Stadium.

The visitors controlled the initial stages of the match and went 7-0 in front via John Afoa's converted try, but Sale hit back as Sam James crossed the whitewash.

Laidlaw and Will Addison then traded penalties before the Kingsholm-based side touched down for the second time through Charlie Sharples.

Cameron Neild reduced the arrears in the second half, but successive Laidlaw three-pointers gave the visitors an excellent win.

"Although we gave away too many penalties, our defensive maul was absolutely outstanding and for me that was the winning of the game, along with our general defence, said director of rugby David Humphreys.

"We had 12 players unavailable in game three of the season and we've said so many times to be competitive in this league you need a depth to your squad."

Humphreys also reserved praise for playmakers Laidlaw and Billy Burns, who controlled the game expertly in the final 10 minutes.

He added: "There was much better game management from our half-backs.

"With Greig's kicking we don't even notice it now, it's been so good. If we get a penalty within the opposition half, you almost assume it's going to be three points.

"But Greig's influence on this group of players goes way beyond that, it's his leadership, his captaincy that he's brought to the team this year.

"I thought both he and Billy Burns dictated that last 20 minutes and it ultimately won us the game."

The visitors opened brightly and deservedly went into the lead.

Sharples' burst down the right-hand side put the hosts' rearguard under pressure before Burns spotted a gap and off-loaded to prop Afoa, who crossed the whitewash.

Laidlaw converted as Gloucester moved 7-0 ahead, but Sale soon began to find some continuity.

For the first time in the match, Steve Diamond's men managed to string together a number of phases and good hands down the blindside sent James over.

After that unconverted try, the home side proceeded to dominate, creating several chances inside the opposition 22, but Gloucester's defence remained resilient.

A penalty apiece for Addison and Laidlaw took the score to 10-8 in Gloucester's favour before Humphreys' team were rewarded for their endeavour late in the half.

They inflicted a crucial blow just shy of the interval and once again it was Sharples who came to the fore. His off-load to Ben Morgan started the move and the wing then had the wherewithal to get back on his feet and be on the end of Tom Marshall's deft grubber.

Needing a response, the Sharks controlled the early passages of the second period.

Gloucester held on commendably but eventually their try line was breached when a driving maul resulted in Neild going over.

Humphreys' men were now struggling to get out of their own half but a needless Sale infringement gave Laidlaw an opportunity to extend their buffer, one which the skipper duly converted.

A further two three-pointers from the scrum-half sealed the victory.