Roebuck hat-trick sets up nine-try rout as Sale pile more misery on Newcastle

Raffi Quirke leaps into the arms of Tom Roebuck after the latter’s second try in Sale’s win over Newcastle. Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images

There will come a time to truly judge the credentials of a Sale side whose solitary title success came nearly 20 years ago, but Friday night was not it. Not against a Newcastle team who surrendered so meekly during the opening 40 minutes that this clash was anything but the feisty northern derby it had been billed.

Alex Sanderson’s side were 31-0 up and in total control at half-time after running in five tries, before adding another four after the break in front of a paltry 5,785 crowd. There will be far greater challenges for Sale. There has to be. It cannot always be this easy.