CARDIFF BLUES 36
SALE SHARKS 19
EIFION Roberts’ and Sale Sharks’ hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the Heineken Cup hang by a thread.
Sharks’ head coach Kingsley Jones made no excuses after the 36-19 reverse at the Cardiff City Stadium and pulled no punches in his aftermatch interview.
Jones said: “Our preparation wasn’t good with last week’s game being cancelled and struggling with training venues this week, but there is no excuse for a performance like that.
“We were humbled and it’s back to the drawing board to prepare for Toulouse next week.”
The match was played in driving rain and Eifion Roberts gave yet another 80-minute performance in Sharks’ colours.
Sale Sharks, whilst scoring the only try in the first half through Sisa Koyamaibole, were hit by four penalties kicked by Ben Blair (3) and a long-range effort by Leigh Halfpenny.
Richie Rees and Bradley Davies crossed for the Blues in the second period, but the Sharks hit back with a great try, crafted by Hodgson who fed James Gaskell and the big lock offloaded to Matthew Tait to run in and score.
Gaskell scored a late try in the corner, but in injury time Xavier Rush intercepted a pass and ran in between the posts to finish the job for the Blues.
Sale Sharks play their final group game in the Heineken Cup on Sunday when they entertain Toulouse at Edgeley Park (3pm).
The Sharks, London Irish, the Blues, Ulster, Ospreys, Clermont Auvergne and Northampton are battling hard for one of the two best performing runners-up spots to qualify for the quarter-finals.