Northampton Saints 47-21 Sale Sharks result - Hosts move second in Gallagher PREM with seven-try rout
PREM / Regular
Cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens / 20.12.2025
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Updated 20/12/2025 at 18:08 GMT
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17:11
HENDY AND SAINTS CRUSH SHARKS IN STYLE TO CAPTURE BONUS-POINT WIN
Northampton Saints brought a festive flourish to their final home game of the calendar year as they hammered Sale Sharks 47-21 at Franklin’s Gardens.
Saints move to second in the Gallagher PREM thanks to this bonus-point win, and are level on points with Exeter Chiefs ahead of Bath playing on Sunday.
Phil Dowson’s side ran in seven tries to reach a rather handsome scoreline, and flyer George Hendy was at the heart of several of them as he clinched a deserved Player of the Match award.
In a surprise to no one, Henry Pollock was instrumental and the blonde back-rower opened the scoring for the hosts after Hendy burst through a huge gap in Sale’s backline.
It was just under 10 minutes later that Hendy got his first of the day, accelerating through another hole in Sale’s defence.
Sale’s defending was a shambles, but the constant offloading and creativity from Saints cemented even more doubt in the opposition defenders.
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'Gorilla Glue on his hands' - O'Flaherty gets one back for Sale after insane interception
Video credit: TNT Sports
Toby Thame added his side’s third try and soon after, Sale finally put points on the board when Tom O’Flaherty finished with an incredible dive in the far corner.
If Alex Sanderson hoped that O’Flaherty’s score would open the door for Sale, Josh Kemeny brutally shut it with a spectacular, side-stepping solo effort that secured a bonus point with seven minutes until half-time.
Shortly after the second half kicked off, Hendy scored his second, turning O’Flaherty inside out with some magnificent footwork, and the win was seemingly secured before the 50-minute mark.
Despite that, chances kept coming for Sale, and they consistently threw them away. Be it overthrown lineouts or poor handling, the visitors sorely missed the finishing touch that the hosts possessed.
Even more hope came for them when Saints full-back Thame was sent to the sin-bin, and despite Sale quickly adding a score through Arron Reed, George Furbank responded moments later with another try.
If Sale could not take control even with a man advantage, they had no hope, and Saints masterfully controlled the time over the final 20 minutes, adding a final try two minutes from time through Tom Pearson.
A five-point victory puts them in a strong position not only in the table, but for when they travel to face a formidable Bath side in a week’s time.
Elsewhere, Exeter Chiefs continued their fine form with an away win at the StoneX, beating Saracens 30-24.
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'The noisiest place in the Midlands!' - Furbank careers over for Saints sixth try against Sale
Video credit: TNT Sports
80'
FULL-TIME! NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 47-21 SALE SHARKS
Saints are denied a half-century but it was an absolute hammering at Franklin's Gardens with seven Northampton tries crushing a meagre Sale Sharks side.
George Hendy was unparalleled and the winger deservedly takes the Player of the Match award.
Henry Pollock, of course, was at the heart of so many good things, and Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith combined beautifully.
79'
BAD TO WORSE
Saints aren't stopping. Callum Chick sends an incredible kick into Sale's 22 and some awkward defending gifts Saints a penalty. They hunt for 50 now.
78'
TRY! PEARSON! SAINTS 47-21 SHARKS
Saints finish with a festive flourish and Tom Pearson goes from defence to attack and smashes his way through Sale's backline close to the line.
The game was already out of Sale's reach, but that's a kick in the teeth.
76'
SUPREME SAINTS DEFENCE
Saints just swallow Sale's carries with ease and Pearson clamps down at the ruck and makes a stellar steal, and Northampton boot the ball back into Sale's 22.
75'
SALE STILL CHASING BONUS POINT
Another chance for Sale to snag a bonus point after they charge down James' box kick. Thame's exit goes out on the full and Sale turn to their forwards to try and barge down the door.
73'
SAINTS EXIT WITH EASE
Seven minutes remaining and Saints manage to exit a scrum in their 22 with ease. Some hard carries from the base and force a penalty out of Sale. Textbook game management.
Alex Mitchell departs after a wonderful display and Tom James comes on.
69'
SHARKS PICKING UP THE TEMPO...
Saints have this win in the bag now but Sale still pushing for a vital bonus point with a man up.
Saints swallowing heavy Sharks carries in the 22, and force a knock-on after several phases.
Sale are trying to force it and playing right into Saints' hands.
61'
TRY! FURBANK! SAINTS 40-21 SHARKS
AHH NEVER MIND THAT. So good from the Saints.
It's more offloading madness creating a shamble of Sale's defence.
Furbank bundles his way through Du Preez and slams the ball down to extend the lead.
57'
TRY! REED! SAINTS 33-21 SHARKS
The man advantage pays for Sale and a sharp whip out wide after some heavy carries gives Reed an easy score.
Come back is on here, and it's going to be all about how Saints handle these next seven or eight minutes..
55'
YELLOW CARD! THAME
Sale have an incredible opportunity with the next 10 minutes a man up.
It's Toby Thame who heads to the sin-bin for some head-on-head collision in the tackle.
16:21
TRY! O'FLAHERTY! SAINTS 33-14 SALE
No words, how has O'Flaherty caught that? Incredible read to reach out and swipe Hendy's obvious pass, but manages to quickly catch his own swipe before it hits the ground.
Try number two for Sale and they add the extras too.
51'
MORE CHANGES FOR BOTH SIDES
For Sale: Dan du Preez replaces Tom Burrow. and Gus Warr replaces Raffi Quirke.
For Saints: Danilo Fischetti replaces Emmanuel Iyogun, and Cleopas Kundiona replaces Trevor Davison
47'
TRY! HENDY! SAINTS 33-7 SHARKS
Hendy CANNOT stop scoring. Fin Smith makes a beautiful step and break and fires a wonderful pass out wide to Hendy, who twists and turns O'Flaherty inside and he scores his second.
Undoubtedly been Saints' standout attacker today.
That's the win cemented, if it wasn't already.
45'
SAINTS SUBSTITUTION
Robbie Smith replaces Craig Wright.
42'
ALL GOOD
All good. Reed was down but Mitchell was slipping as he chased a kick and Reed was regathering. 'Common sense' is what Christoph Ridley called the decision, which is pretty fair.
Mitchell was really and did try to pull out, just an awkward one.
42'
TMO CHECKING...
Just taking a look at a potential hit on Reed from Mitchell...
40'
SALE IMMEDIATELY LET MOMENTUM SLIP
Quirke delivers a great box-kick out of the restart and Sale push Todaro into touch, but Cowan-Dickie's throw is not straight and possession is instantly back with Saints.
40'
KICK-OFF!
Saints get us back underway for the second-half. Can Sale get themselves back in the game?