Sale Sharks 29-43 Northampton Saints result – Gallagher PREM latest as Henry Pollock completes seven-try victory in huge blow for hosts

PREM / Regular

Salford Community Stadium / 24.01.2026

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19:49

SAINTS MOVE BACK TOP AFTER OVERCOMING SALE TEST

Northampton Saints showed their strength in depth as they scored three tries in the final 14 minutes to overcome Sale Sharks 29-43.

Sharks came into the game needing a win or being in danger of being cut adrift from the Gallagher PREM top four.

However, they hosted a Saints time full of confidence and the visitors raced into a 14-point lead after just 11 minutes through Tommy Freeman and Rory Hutchinson.

Sale were in danger of being dismantled, but slowed the game down and forced their visitors into some characteristic errors.

Raffi Quirke pulled the Sharks back into the game, before a George Ford penalty on the stroke of half-time gave them renewed hope.

Sale hit just 39 seconds into the second half when a missed high ball allowed Joe Carpenter to give the hosts the lead for the first time.

Both sides then traded blows with two tries each as the game remained in the balance.

However, the league leaders triumphed as their replacements made the difference.

Josh Kemeny capped a complete performance with his side’s fifth try before further Alex Coles and Henry Pollock tries put them clear.

Image credit: Getty Images

19:40

DOWSON: ‘SCORELINE WAS FLATTERING’

Northampton’s director of rugby Phil Dowson felt that the 29-43 score-line for his side was ‘flattering’ after being tested against Sale Sharks.

He told TNT Sports: "The score-line is probably a little bit fluttering.

"It nip and tuck the whole way. It was always going to come down to the last 10 minutes, and we said that they were going to be emotional, that they were going to coming out of the gates very quickly, and they did.

"We had to really work hard to get it out there. On both sides the England players and obviously all the other nations, the Scottish lads and the Italian lads.

"They were flat out, I think that shows how invested they are in their teams and that they want to get selected on international duty."

19:32

RUGBY ON TNT SPORTS

Watch and stream Gallagher PREM, Quilter Nations Series, and Premiership Women's Rugby and more on TNT Sports and discovery+

19:30

CHICK: ‘SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE’

Northampton number eight said that winning at Sale for the first time in eight years is a ‘significant milestone’ for the club.

He told TNT Sports: "It puts us in a good place.

"The boys going away with England and another chance for some boys in the cup. Finishing this block, top of the lot was hugely important for us.

"This group hasn't won here for a long time, so it's a significant milestone for us."

19:25

SAINTS MOVE BACK TOP

Northampton move back above Bath at the summit of the Gallagher PREM heading into the Six Nations break. Sale’s hopes for the season could be over as they sit 17 points outside the top four with eight games remaining.

FT'

PEEP

It has been eight years since the Saints last won at Sale. However, they run out 29-43 winners following an impressive last 20-minute showing.

79'

TRY! SALE SHARKS 29 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 43 (POLLOCK)

A high Sale pitch sees Freeman intercept and kick it through for Pollock who drives forward and though the gap to score. There is some controversy around the try as Freeman was half off the pitch when he kick through.

Furbank adds the extras.

75'

TRY! SALE SHARKS 29 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 36 (COLES)

The Saints are determined to score with drive after drive. Fischetti and Millar Mills are both involved in the move. Coles is in the middle and after several touches of the ball he grounds.

Furbank misses the conversion.

73'

BELL SAVES SALE FROM CONCEDING

The Saints drive the ball forward from a line-out and have the penalty advantage following an off-side tackle. Fischetti with the first drive forward before it goes back out wide.

Chick believes he has scored only for Bell to get under the ball and holds the ball up

70'

HUGE MELEE

The referee has lots to do as there are arms being thrown all over the place. It comes after a high tackle on the head of Pollock.

Hutchinson then grabs his opponent and throws to the floor. The ball rings as bodies are all over the Sale 22-metre line. No cards are given, but a Saints penalty.

66'

POLLOCK HAS IMMEDIATE IMPACT

The youngster comes on for Pearson and immediately rips the ball from his opponent. Belleau also goes off for a HIA and is replaced by Hendy.

64'

TRY! SALE SHARKS 29 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 31 (KEMENY)

Just seconds after going behind the Saints are back ahead.

The back row start the move as Coles starts through the middle before finding Chick. O’Flaherty manages a brilliant tap-tackle but releases Kemeny to score. A difficult conversion is wide.

61'

TRY! SALE SHARKS 29 (O’FLAHERTY) NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 26

Sale with a line-out and driving maul towards the posts which draws in the Saints defence. Du Preez then kicks O'Flaherty clear out wide and over.

Ford sends the conversion over to break the 2,000 Gallagher points mark.

'One of the game's ultimate brains' - George Ford scores his 2000th Gallagher PREM point

Video credit: TNT Sports

60'

REPLACEMENTS

Amid all the try scoring action there have been some changes.

Sale - Burrow on for Curry; Warr on for Quirke; Jibulu on for Caine.

Saints - Hendy off for Furbank.

57'

TRY! SALE SHARKS 22 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 26 (TODARO)

Saints outnumber their opponents on the outside. Mitchell offloads to Fairbank and then Todaro to race over. Belleau misses the conversion.

55'

TRY! SALE SHARKS 22 (O’FLAHERTY) NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 21

Saints try and run the ball from under their own posts but Hendy is tackled by Curry. From the resulting play Quirke quickly finds Ford and then Ma’asi-White who releases winger O'Flaherty to score. The try is converted by Ford

53'

SAINTS CHANGE FRONT ROW

Wright, Fischetti, Millar Mills come on for Davison, Smith and Iyogun.

For Sale, Reed comes on for Wills

50'

VAN DER MESCHT DRIVES FORWARD

This game remains in the balance with little to separate the sides. The huge frame of Van Der Mescht charges forward before eventually being pulled down.

46'

TRY! SALE SHARKS 15 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 21 (SMITH)

The visitors have received the message to start passing and moving more on the ball. It worked in the first half for them.

They drive to a metre out and hooker Smith finds a gap over the top of the maul and smuggles the ball over. Belleau controls his conversion well and the Saints are back ahead.

41'

TRY! SALE SHARKS 15 (CARPENTER) NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 14

Just 39 seconds into the second half Sale are ahead. From the kick-off Kemeny misses the ball for Northampton and Quirke keeps the ball moving out to Carpenter to cross.

Ford misses the conversion in difficult conditions.

'39 seconds into the new half' - Carpenter scores after sublime Sharks move to start the second half

Video credit: TNT Sports

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