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Will fans be cheering a Twickenham title bid?

9/ 5/2008

SALE Sharks are just two wins away from a Twickenham title fight this season.

Victory in their final home game, against London Irish on Saturday, would cement Sharks’ place in the Guinness Premiership play-offs – and provide a chance to snare the league silverware for a second time.

Philippe Saint-Andre’s team have already sealed a spot in the Heineken Cup, Europe’s biggest rugby competition, following a 23-16 triumph at Harlequins on Sunday.

Sharks commanded the bulk of possession and territory and held a comfortable lead, courtesy of tries by Richard Wigglesworth and Andy Vilk and 13 points from Charlie Hodgson’s boot, when prop Andrew Sheridan and back-row Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe were sent to the sin bin within three minutes of each other.

Sale’s 13 remaining tenacious men prevented ‘Quins stealing the points advantage, their grit paying off as they conceded just one unconverted try to scrum-half Danny Care.

Sharks’ head coach, Kingsley Jones, said: "I think we controlled the game and we were by far the better team.

"The players’ experience and physicality showed and they deserve a lot of credit. They turned up and treated the game for what it was – a massive game.

"At 23-11 it was finished. Unfortunately having 13 men at one stage was a factor, as I felt we could have gone on and scored more."

European qualification and a well-deserved triumph will provide a timely boost for Sharks at the most critical stage of the season. Sharks have lost just once at home in the league this season, a shock defeat against a struggling Worcester side.

Ensuring London Irish do not become the second team to breach the Edgeley Park fortress is key to Sharks’ ambitions.

"The Heineken Cup was a minimum requirement," added Jones. "We now need a great performance against London Irish.

"It is going to very hard. London Irish have had a taste of Heineken Cup rugby and they’ll want to be there again next season. They are a good side – it’s going to be a really hard game and a big challenge."

SHARKS have signed Leicester back-row Luke Abraham and England’s Mathew Tait, from Newcastle Falcons, on two and three-year deals respectively.

Centre Elvis Seveali’i and 24-year-old flanker Magnus Lund will leave the Edgeley Park outfit at the end of the season.

Lund is poised to sign a deal with top French club Biarritz as he seeks out new experiences.

"I’m looking forward to a new challenge and part of that will be going over to a different country," he said.

"Experiencing that will hopefully help me develop as a person and a player."