Ashton to make Premiership bow
CHRIS Ashton will finally make his Premiership debut for Sale tomorrow.
The England ace will play as full-back for the Sharks at Bath having recovered from the calf injury he picked up while with the national team earlier this month.
Ashton, who missed the start of the season following his summer move from Toulon because of a seven-week ban, made his Sale debut in the European Challenge Cup against Connacht – and he scored a hat-trick.
Second row Josh Beaumont will make his 100th appearance for the club, while Byron McGuigan and Josh Strauss return from duty with Scotland as Sharks look to build on last week’s victory over Northampton Saints at the AJ Bell Stadium.
And winger Arron Reed, who misses out despite an impressive Premiership debut of his own last weekend, believes this is the best time to take on Bath, who they can leapfrog in the table with victory. “It probably is the best time to play them,” Reed said. “They’re not performing as well as they could at the moment and I think it’s just a chance to get down there and get some points on the board.
The England youth international’s performance earned him the ‘Fans’ Shark of the Match,’ and Sale director of rugby Steve Diamond piled praise on the winger.
Reed said: “I made a few little breaks but I always feel like I could do better, and I look at things that I didn’t do as well, but I was happy with the way I played.
“I was very frustrated not to score because I got close a few times.
“I had one disallowed at the start, and with the other one I almost got there but the big winger got me.”
And Reed has praised the way the senior players, such as Ashton, have helped his development.
He said: “On and off the pitch they’re all amazing, it’s developing me as a player a lot. They all want to help me and I go through the games with Byron McGuigan, and I ask Ashy for tips, so it’s amazing.
“It’s tough to get in the team when they’re here, but when they’re on international duty it gives you an opportunity to step in and show what you can do.”