Gloucester fight back for deserved win over Sale

Gloucester fight back for deserved win over SaleImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Charlie Atkinson's 76th-minute score sealed back-to-back wins for Gloucester after beating Exeter Chiefs last time outByChris HarbyBBC Sport EnglandPublished4 minutes agoCommentsThe PremGloucester (7) 21Tries: Loader, C Atkinson 2 Cons: Barton 3Sale (12) 15Tries: Longstaff, O'Flaherty Cons: Ford Drop-goal: Ford Gloucester fought back to beat Sale Sharks 21-15 at Kingsholm and secure their first back-to-back Prem wins of the season.Alfie Longstaff's early score and Tom O'Flaherty's breakaway try put Sale 12-0 ahead, but Ben Loader's reply was the least Gloucester deserved for their expansive approach.The hosts lost Wales star scrum-half Tomos Williams to a shoulder injury early in the second half, but Charlie Atkinson's close-range snipe and George Barton's second conversion soon had them in front.George Ford's 45-metre drop-goal put Sale back in front at 15-14, but Atkinson went over for his second try with four minutes left to finally secure the win.A fourth league win of the season boosts Gloucester's hopes of qualifying for next season's European Champions Cup and gives them a nine-point buffer over ninth-placed Harlequins, who visit bottom side Newcastle Red Bulls on Sunday.More to follow.Gloucester: Barton; Joseph, Llewellyn, S Atkinson, Loader; C Atkinson, Williams (c); Rapava Ruskin, Blake, Fasogbon, Clark, Alemanno, Thomas, Venter, Trenholm.Replacements: Innard, Bleuler, Knight, Eite, Gwynne, Clement, Englefield, Edwards-Giraud.Sale: Carpenter; Roebuck, Louw, Ma'asi-White, O'Flaherty; Ford, Warr; McEachran, Longstaff, Opoku-Fordjour, Andrews, Bamber, van Rhyn (c), Vermeulen, Dugdale.Replacements: Austin, Onasanya, Harper, Woodman, Kelly, Hanson, L James, Reed.Referee: Sara Cox.Related topicsSaleGloucesterRugby Union