In the shadow of Twickenham where 24 hours previously Jonah Lomu inspired the All Blacks in a World Cup epic, the two sides conspired to produce a match so bad it was almost equally as entertaining.

Neither side seemed willing to raise a sweat as passes were fumbled , scrums were collapsed and kicks missed their targets.

In addition both teams struggled to win their own line-outs, Sale hooker Steve Diamond watching one throw miss all the jumpers by nearly 10 yards.

At half-time neither side had managed to make any impression on the scoreboard, although that wasnt through the lack of opportunities.

Little improved after the break as both sides battled in vain for control of the midfield. Greenstocks intelligent running occasionally threatened to break the deadlock, but with woeful support Sale were more than able to weather the storm.

With sixty-three minutes of the game gone Sale finally managed to break the deadlock with a scrappy try that mirrored the game.

Rob Liley converted his fifth penalty attempt for the loudest cheer of the afternoon only for Sale winger Joe Shaw to cancel it out moments later as the visitors defence closed out the game.

Match report reproduced with the kind permission of SportLive