Sale Sharks 43-17 Harlequins result - Gallagher PREM reaction as seven-try Sale overpower Quins in second half to secure vital win

PREM / Regular

CorpAcq Stadium / 26.12.2025

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19:54

SEVEN-TRY SALE BLOW HARLEQUINS AWAY IN SECOND-HALF COMEBACK

Sale Sharks made amends for a slow first half by scoring five tries in 20 minutes to beat Harlequins 43-17 in the Gallagher PREM at CorpAcq Stadium.

Both sides entered the match in desperate need of a win and the visitors were gifted an opener when Marcus Smith intercepted a line-out to bag an easy try.

Sale responded as Alex Wills and Luke Cowan-Dickie went over either side of a Smith penalty to take the lead, but Harlequins closed out the half with a controversial try.

Jack Walker looked to force the ball over the line, but there was little evidence to suggest he grounded it on the line. However, the on-field decision stood due to the lack of a clear replay.

Sale may have felt unfortunate to go into the break behind, but came out of the blocks flying and built up a cushion as Jacques Vermeulen scored two tries in eight minutes.

From then on, Harlequins faltered. After Rekeiti Ma’asi-White started and finished a slick move for a fifth try, Raffi Quirke chased his own kick to force a calamitous error from Smith.

Nathan Jibulu capped off a perfect half for the hosts, scoring against his former club to put the win well beyond doubt.

Seventh-placed Sale took maximum points to close the gap to the play-offs to nine points, but those above them are yet to play this weekend, while Harlequins languish in eighth, as head coach Jason Gilmore suggested post-match that his side were starting to focus on next season.

Highlights: Sale bounce back with huge win as heavy defeat worsens Quins debacle

Video credit: TNT Sports

19:49

GILMORE: 'WE NEED PEOPLE THAT WANT TO FIGHT'

Harlequins Head Coach Jason Gilmore speaking to TNT Sports: "I think it's a little bit of both [technique and mindset] particularly coming out of the maul. But there's desire in that, and that's what we need to look at within the squad.

"We've got some choices to make across the next six months in terms of recruitment and retainment. I've spoken to the squad about that. We need people that want to fight."

19:44

SANDERSON: 'THAT'S ALL I WANTED FOR CHRISTMAS'

Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson speaking to TNT Sports: "That's all I wanted for Christmas. Not just the result, but how the lads went about it. How physical they were, how hard they worked. How much they enjoyed it. It felt like we lifted some shackles off today, talked about throwing some punches, metaphorically obviously, on Boxing Day.

"And they did. That try after half-time was one of the better ones we scored all year. A lot of things we can celebrate, after being teetotal yesterday.

"It doesn't get any easier, but I love that part of it. You have to find parts you enjoy in the losing to get back on top. And what we've got to do now is back it up. To be the team we want to be, we've got to back it up away from home against a very good Bristol team. But we'll celebrate that first, and then we'll get on to Bristol.

"If we've got ambitions, we've got to go down there and, not do a job, but be really competitive and give ourselves a chance of winning that game. Come away with some points at least.

"They've won their last four or five games and they were phenomenal against Quins last week. You've got to find a way to shut them down defensively speaking, and then attack them.

"We needed a big performance from some of ur experienced players. and there was a few that came back today and they all look like they haven't missed a beat.

"George Ford, Bevan Rodd, Joe Carpenter, Sam Dugdale off the bench. There's a lot of players that could have walked off with that MVP medal."

19:38

HOW TO WATCH RUGBY ON TNT SPORTS

This is just the start of a huge weekend of Gallagher PREM action as the race for the play-offs tighten as we reach the halfway stage of the season.

Table-toppers Bath host Northampton tomorrow in one of three matches, before Leicester Tigers visit second placed Exeter on Sunday.

Watch every Gallagher PREM match of the 2025/26 season – including the play-offs and final – live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

19:33

QUIRKE: 'I THOUGHT, WHAT A TREAT!'

Sale wing Raffi Quirke speaking to TNT Sports: "That was good, that was a Boxing Day treat. Nice Christmas present.

On him moving to wing: "It was always part of the plan. We've got a lot of lads coming back from injury so we had to move the team around a little bit. But I didn't mind it, bit of freedom.

On his try: "I got the ball and I thought 'I don't think anyone's in that corner,' so I kicked it, and I was sprinting, and I was thinking about Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu's try when he kicked to the corner and he chased it himself. I thought 'This might happen here,' and when Marcus dropped it, I thought 'What a treat.'"

19:27

WATCH: SALE RETAKE THE LEAD THROUGH 'FABULOUS' VERMEULEN TRY

This was the moment Sale retook the lead and never looked back, bagging five tries in 20 minutes.

'A masterclass in ball-control!'- Sale retake the lead through 'fabulous' Vermeulen try

Video credit: TNT Sports

19:22

WATCH: HUGE SMITH BLUNDER GIFTS SALE THEIR SEVENTH TRY

Speaking of Quirke, check out his try, pouncing on a calamitous Smith error.

'A moment he'll be keen to erase!' - Huge Smith blunder gifts Sale their seventh try

Video credit: TNT Sports

19:21

FULL TIME! SALE 43-17 HARLEQUINS

Sale win the scrum and force a penalty. They butcher the kick into touch and Harlequins will take the scrum.

Louw deals with Lucas Friday's kick as we enter the final minute.

Raffi Quirke takes player of the match, as the whistle goes with the clock in the red!

Sale were unlucky to be behind at half-time but completely blitzed through a sorry Harlequins defence in the second half to cap off a dominant bonus-point win.

77'

WENGER FORCED OFF WITH SERIOUS INJURY

Wenger hobbles off, supported by two members of staff. Let's hope that isn't as bad as it looks. Will Hobson comes back on.

Sale force an overturn and Gurshwin Wehr uses his pace to break but gets tackled into touch.

75'

HARLEQUINS FINALLY STRINGING TOGETHER AN ATTACK

Here comes a rare Harlequins attack. Oh no, they're penalised for obstruction just outside the 22.

Ironic cheers as Smith has to defend another kick into his own 22, but there is too much on the kick and he watches it out.

Harlequins win a penalty inside Sale's half and kick to touch as Boris Wenger needs treatment for Quins.

69'

TRY! SALE 43-17 HARLEQUINS (JIBULU)

Quirke has not stopped running and goes again, as it is yet again Sale on the attack as they get a lineout in the Quins 22.

The visitors have absolutely capitulated this half, and it could get worse.

And it does! The Sale maul is relentless as former Quin Jibulu gets the points!

65'

TRY! SALE 38-17 HARLEQUINS (QUIRKE)

Isgro has been a rare bright light for Harlequins and looks to gain some territory but again Harlequins can't keep control of the ball. They've had just 27% possession this half.

Quirker kick into space and and scampers after it, even though Marcus Smith looks comfortable in gathering it.

But he makes an absolute mess of the recovery and Quirke pounces for a fourth try in the half!

61'

TRY! SALE 31-17 HARLEQUINS (MA'ASI-WHITE)

That was Vermeulen's last action as he jogs off for Sam Dugdale. Ford also makes way for Rekeiti Ma'asi-White after a successful hour on his injury return.

It is all Sale at the moment but Isgro gathers a kick to give Harlequins some time to breathe.

It's not for long though as Nathan Jibulu skips through to get within metres of the try line after a good offload from Ma'asi-White.

The South African then comes back round to finish off the move in style!

56'

TRY! SALE 24-17 HARLEQUINS (VERMEULEN)

Bamber makes an illegal block at the maul, giving Harlequins a chance to clear, but Van Rhyn gets a hand on the resultant lineout to win a penalty as Quins fumble the ball.

Now Sale come forward once more, and this time it is Cowan-Dickie who slips through two pink shirts before Vermeulen comes behind to go over!

That is the bonus point, but Ford hits the post to keep Harlequins within one score.

52'

WALKER OFF FOR HIA AS DOMBRANDT COMES ON FOR QUINS

Alex Dombrandt is about to come on for Harlequins, replacing Chandler Cunningham-South.

Sale are driving forward at the moment and win an advantage as they get into the 22. Their passing has been brilliant today.

Meanwhile, Jack Musk comes on for Jack Walker as part of an HIA.

On comes Dombrandt, as well as Pedro Delgado for Harry Williams

48'

TRY! SALE 19-17 HARLEQUINS (VERMEULEN)

Walker now takes over captaincy duties and his first task is to lead a Harlequins scrum. Sale immediately put the visitors under pressure, and Porter clears from his own 22.

Sale produce some slick passing without really getting anywhere.

But eventually Ernst Van Rhyn finds a small gap to break clear before shifting across to Jacques Vermeulen who beats the final defender to secure the try!

Ford gets the conversion to retake the lead too!

43'

HARLEQUINS SUBSTITUTION: MURLEY OFF FOR CONCUSSION

Quirke, now on the wing, pushes forward and Harlequins are on the rope here, and get an interceptions just in time.

There is a stoppage as Murley gets some treatment. He took an elbow and a knee to the head and his night will be over, due to a suspected concussion.

He is replaced by Bryn Bradley.

41'

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY

More Oasis as Sale get ready to start the second half. Why are they playing the same song?

Anyway, Ford gets things underway. Can Sale fight back to get a big win?

18:32

HOW TO WATCH RUGBY ON TNT SPORTS

Watch every Gallagher PREM match of the 2025/26 season – including the play-offs and final – live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

18:25

WATCH: COWAN-DICKIE POWERS OFF FROM DOMINANT SALE MAUL

'Starts and finishes it!' - Cowan-Dickie powers off from dominant Sale maul

Video credit: TNT Sports

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