Late penalty try gives Sale 28-24 win over Harlequins

Sale beat Harlequins 28-24 at CorpAcq Stadium after a penalty try in the 73rd minute completed their comeback. BBC Sport reported that the decisive score followed a maul that drove Quins back 30 metres, with Sam Riley penalised close to the line. The result gave Sale successive league victories and left Harlequins still seeking their first win of the campaign.

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Marcus Smith's return had helped the visitors build an early advantage. Making his first appearance of the season after a finger injury, the fly-half scored two tries in the opening quarter. Quins were coming off a 48-0 defeat by Gloucester, but their attack posed a much greater threat with Smith back in the side alongside George Furbank.

Riley opened the scoring in the third minute after Smith and Furbank combined in midfield. Smith then finished a move involving Furbank before Sale responded through Elia Canakaivata, who was making his first Prem start. Smith crossed again for his second try, giving Harlequins three tries before the interval. The television match official also ruled out two further Quins tries during the first half.

Sale, who were without Tom Curry after he withdrew through illness, stayed close through a Gus Warr try shortly before the break. Harlequins led 17-14 at half-time and extended their advantage in the 53rd minute when Riley scored from a maul. It was the hooker's second try and his team's fourth, securing a try bonus point for the visitors.

The hosts responded through lock Ben Bamber, whose try followed a break by Nicky Smith. Courtney Lawes then stole a line-out to help keep Sale in contention. Their decisive opportunity came from the long driving maul, with referee Christophe Ridley awarding a penalty try and sending Riley to the sin-bin after he brought it down near the line.

Harlequins could not regain the lead and finished with a third straight league defeat, remaining bottom despite collecting their first points of the season. For Sale, the victory followed their win over Saracens and continued their recovery from an opening home defeat by Bristol. It was also their fifth consecutive victory over Quins across domestic and European competition.