Bath score belated first win
Bath came from behind to run in three tries and score a first Guinness Premiership victory at Sale in six years.
Last Updated: 18/09/09 10:53pm
Bath came from behind to run in three tries and score a first Guinness Premiership victory at Sale in six years.
Australian centre Matt Carraro crossed twice and Matt Bahanan also touched down as the visitors survived a late spell of pressure to earn a 25-12 win at Edgeley Park.
After defeats to Gloucester and Wasps Steve Meehan's arrived in Stockport with a new-look line-up and a point to prove but soon found themselves behind when in-form Welshman Lee Thomas booted a fourth minute penalty.
Nicky Little, who replaced Ryan Davis at stand-off for Bath, converted from 40 metres out to level the scores inside 10 minutes but Sale maintained their good start with Mark Cueto close to crossing in the right corner, only to be held up close to the line.
When Bath were caught offside Thomas made it 6-3 for the hosts but after failing with a lengthy follow-up, Bath full-back Jack Cuthbert also missed from long range before Little and Thomas exchanged penalties.
But with half an hour gone, Carraro burst into life when he collected from Little and held off Ben Cohen to cross for the first try.
Little added the extras and Bath went in 13-9 up, extending the advantage four minutes into the second half when winger Banahan benefited from some weak defending to charge over.
On this occasion Little failed to convert but it was only five minutes later that Bath virtually put themselves out of sight with a third try, Shontayne Hape sending Carraro in for his second score of the night.
Little made no mistake to take his personal tally to 10 points although Thomas added a fourth penalty before the hour mark to keep the hosts within two converted tries.
Bath made life difficult for themselves when Banahan was sin-binned for a high tackle on Cueto before team-mate Andy Beattie joined him on the sidelines for killing the ball.
However, their defence held up under pressure and they returned to the West Country with enough points to lift themselves off the foot of the table.
