sharks

As so many of Newcastle’s games have been this season, it looked like one-way traffic from their opponents from kick-off.

Making his first start at outside centre with Luke James unwell, Roebuck crossed with a minute on the clock, cutting inside from the left after a hand-off from Reed, with George Ford notching the extras.

Newcastle’s Simon Benitez-Cruz saw a try chalked-off for a forward pass before Seb Kelly barged over for his first Prem try at the other end on six minutes after a slick break down the left from Reed was stopped just short of the line.

The hosts got on the board on 10 minutes following a series of close-range drives with Christie diving under a pile of bodies to touch down on the whitewash.

O’Flaherty scored the third Sale try 15 minutes in after a basketball-style tip back from the touchline from Roebuck, with Ford notching the extras from out wide.

Joe Carpenter secured the bonus-point try inside 24 minutes after taking a short pass from Ford on the charge, with the England fly-half adding the extras.

The recalled Amanaki Mafi bulldozed down the blind side from a close-range scrum to reduce the arrears for Red Bulls as the heavens opened, though the conversion was missed once again and Sale added their fifth try through Alfie Longstaff after a rolling maul from a line-out, with Ford kicking his fifth conversion from the right.

Sale struggled to get going after the turnaround and the hosts made them pay as Hearle burst onto Harrison Obatoyinbo’s pass to plunge over by the posts, with Brett Connon slotting his first conversion to make it 35-17.

Lockwood picked up after Christian Wade was stopped a metre short of the line after gathering a long diagonal kick and dived into the corner and Ben Healy converted from the touchline to make it an 11-point game with 25 minutes remaining.

Roebuck thought he had picked up his second score after driving forward and then winning the race to Newcastle-bound Raffi Quirke’s grubber kick towards the line but it was ruled-out for a knock-on from O’Flaherty and the hosts then produced a defiant goalline stand to keep the Sharks at bay, with Roebuck held up on the line and then knocking on under the posts.

The waves of pressure continued and Reed eventually crossed after quick hands from Quirke, Ford and O’Flaherty, with Ford adding the conversion.

However Newcastle raced back and with 13 minutes remaining a brilliant flick from Healy sent Christie diving over for his second score in the right corner.

Healy turned provider once again on 72 minutes with a delayed pass to send Hearle over for his second to the right of the uprights and then notched the conversion to make it a four-point deficit.

After one win in 547 days the hosts were not going to settle for a close call and broke away from their own 22 after the clock ticked over to 80 minutes with Hearle on hand to collect a short pass and blaze away from halfway untouched to spark wild scenes in the final game of the season at Kingston Park.

THIS stunning Irish island has rugged coastal walks, homemade goat’s cheese and some of the best wildlife spotting in the country.

Cape Clear Island lies just eight miles off the coast of West Cork and is Ireland’s most southerly inhabited Gaeltacht island.

Visitors can reach the remote spot by ferry from Baltimore, with the journey taking around 40 minutes.

The island is known for its sparkling waters, dramatic coastline and wildlife-filled seas, where dolphins, whales and basking sharks can often be spotted.

And once on land, visitors can explore walking trails, visit the famous goat farm or enjoy a pint and a bite to eat before catching the ferry home.

Ferry tickets to the remote island start at just €9 for children’s tickets.

Cape Clear Island is three miles long and one mile wide.

As a Gaeltacht island, the majority of people living there speak Irish, or Gaeilge.

Adult return tickets from Baltimore to Cape Clear cost €20, while children’s tickets cost €9.

There are also special family packages, including two adults and two children, for €50 return.

The island is a popular destination during the summer months with secondary school students looking to improve their Irish language skills on immersion courses.

The hillsides are covered in heather, gorse and other wildflowers, while the water sparkles beneath.

While on the ferry, passengers have a good chance of spotting wildlife beneath the waves.

Dolphins, basking sharks and even whales are known to frequent the waters surrounding Cape Clear.

From higher ground on the island, harmless basking sharks can often be seen lazily gliding through the waters close to shore.

And a number of companies provide boat tours specifically for dolphin and whale watching.

GOAT FARM

Once you’re on the island, there’s plenty to do to keep busy — including visiting the Cape Clear Goat Farm, or Cléire Goats.

The quaint farm was established in 1979 and is located near the Cape Clear Heritage Centre.

Visitors can meet the friendly goats and try delicious homemade goat’s cheese and ice cream.

And if visitors attend the farm between 10am and 12pm, they’ll get a chance to see the goats being milked.

There’s also the main heritage centre, the Fastnet Rock Lighthouse, which can be toured, and a world-renowned birdwatching observatory to visit.

There are also plenty of places to go for a paddle in the sea, or to kayak further out.

And on land, there are a number of walking routes that allow visitors to explore every inch of the island’s beauty.

FOOD AND ACCOMMODATION

Cape Clear has a small number of restaurants and bars that provide hearty meals and drinks.

There’s a farmers’ market every Sunday, a small grocery shop and a tourist shop.

Many people who visit the island choose to do a day trip, arriving on the ferry in the morning and leaving again in the evening.

But for those hoping to stay overnight, there are some accommodation options.

There are a few apartments, cottages and houses to rent.

There is also the Chléire Haven glamping site, which is a family-friendly camping site open from April to September.

There’s the Ard na Gaoithe B&B, which provides an early breakfast for guests and encourages Irish speaking.

There’s also Cape Clear Hostel.

Sale: R du Preez; O’Flaherty, Louw, Ma’asi-White, Roebuck; Ford, Warr; Opoku-Fordjour, Caine, Harper; van Rhyn (c), Bamber, Vermuelen, Gilmore, Dugdale.

Replacements: Longstaff, McEachran, Raymont, Hodkinson, Logan, Hanson, Bedlow, Woodman.

Saracens: Malins; Caluori, Tompkins, Hartley, Segun; Burke, Bracken; Carre, George, Street; Itoje (c), Tizard, McFarland, Earl, Willis.

Replacements: Dan, Mawi, Riccioni, Wilson, Michelow, van Zyl, Farrell, Hall.

Referee: Christophe Ridley.