European Rugby Cup : Sale Sharks Raise European Challenge Cup

Charlie Hodgson gave Lions boss Clive Woodward a timely reminder of his talent as he scored 17 points in Sale�s second European Challenge Cup triumph.
Having scored ten points in his team�s success over Pontypridd at the Kassam Stadium three years earlier, the England outside half was in even hotter form as he picked up the man-of-the-match award after scoring two fine tries.

Hodgson was one of five Lions selected in the Sale starting lineup and another two members of that famous five, Andy Titterrall and Mark Cueto also got among the tries.
Pau, the champions in 2000, were unable to stem Sale�s flow despite the torrential rain. By half time the English club were well on their way to a second title with a 17-3 lead. The first ten points came from Hodgson with a third minute penaly and a 24th minute try and conversion. Pau�s only points came from the boot of outside half Lionel Beauxis.
But no sooner had Pau notched their first points than Sale hit back with their second try through some brilliant support play wide out on the right by Titterrall.
The Lions hooker, playing in the back row for his club, took an inside pass from Cueto to cross near the corner which Hodgson converted.
Cueto was next across the Pau line 16 minutes after the break and Hodgson made victory secure with his second try on the hour.

Sale Sharks

Section Paloise

Pos

Player

Pos

Jason Robinson (capt)

Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe

Replacements

Jean-Baptiste Peyras Loustalet

Penalty Tries

First half timeline
3	Sale Sharks	Penalty kick - C Hodgson
24	Sale Sharks	Try - C Hodgson
24	Sale Sharks	Conversion - C Hodgson
30	Section Paloise	Penalty kick - L Beauxis
30	Section Paloise	Substitution - P Furet on for A Manta
36	Sale Sharks	Try - A Titterrell
36	Sale Sharks	Conversion - C Hodgson
Second half timeline
41	Sale Sharks	Substitution - B Stewart on for S Turner
45	Section Paloise	Substitution - M Tincu on for R Terrain
56	Section Paloise	Substitution - O Sourgens on for F Boiroux
56	Section Paloise	Substitution - L Mercier on for N Martin
56	Sale Sharks	Try - M Cueto
61	Sale Sharks	Substitution - S Turner on for A Sheridan
68	Sale Sharks	Try - C Hodgson
70	Sale Sharks	Substitution - S Martens on for B Redpath
70	Sale Sharks	Substitution - P Anglesea on for A Titterrell
70	Section Paloise	Substitution - F Cibray on for C Laussucq
70	Section Paloise	Substitution - J Peyras Loustalet on for M Dourthe
74	Sale Sharks	Substitution - P Caillet on for S Turner
74	Sale Sharks	Substitution - C Day on for C Jones
74	Sale Sharks	Substitution - M Hercus on for C Hodgson
74	Sale Sharks	Substitution - C Jones on for R Todd
80	Section Paloise	Blood sub - N Martin on for P Som

Results so far

Sale Sharks

Date	Stage	Opposition	Score
21/5/05	Final	Section Paloise	W 27-3
24/4/05	Semi Finals	Connacht	W 59-9
2/4/05	Semi Finals	Connacht	W 25-18
15/1/05	Quarter Finals	SU Agen	L 15-17
7/1/05	Quarter Finals	SU Agen	W 34-18
10/12/04	Round 2	Narbonne	W 25-10
4/12/04	Round 2	Narbonne	W 33-15
31/10/04	Round 1	Catania	W 50-3
24/10/04	Round 1	Catania	W 31-22

Section Paloise

Date	Stage	Opposition	Score
21/5/05	Final	Sale Sharks	L 3-27
23/4/05	Semi Finals	Brive	L 13-27
3/4/05	Semi Finals	Brive	W 37-16
14/1/05	Quarter Finals	ASM Clermont Auvergne	L 25-26
8/1/05	Quarter Finals	ASM Clermont Auvergne	W 25-21
12/12/04	Round 2	London Irish	L 16-19
4/12/04	Round 2	London Irish	W 25-19
30/10/04	Round 1	G.R.A.N Parma	W 31-22
23/10/04	Round 1	G.R.A.N Parma	W 35-15