Beaumont injury mares Sale win

Sale fear Josh Beaumont suffered a “serious” knee injury during their hard-fought 28-18 win over Wasps on Friday night. The Sharks picked up their second win of the season in the Gallagher Premiership at the AJ Bell, despite being outscored two tries to one by the visitors. The Manchester-based outfit had the Du Preez brothers to thank for the victory, Dan du Preez going over for Sale’s only try in the first half with sibling Rob adding the conversion. Rob Du Preez scored 17 points on the night, kicking five penalties, while USA international AJ MacGinty added two more penalties in a stop-start encounter. Wasps scored tries through Sione Vailanu and Zach Kibirige as they just missed out on a losing bonus-point, while director of rugby Dai Young’s men have now lost three of their four matches to start the season. The gloss was taken off the win for Sale by the news that lock Beaumont spent the night in hospital with a knee injury after the 26-year-old had landed awkwardly from a lineout, resulting in him leaving the field on a stretcher. The injury to Beamount leaves Sale short of options in the second row with big off-season acquisition Lood de Jager ruled out for six months after the World Cup-winning South African underwent shoulder surgery. Sale director of rugby Steve Diamond couldn’t provide any further details on Beaumont, other than he feared the injury was serious after the game as he looked to focus on the scoreline, rather than the performance of his team. “It wasn’t a flowing game, it probably wasn’t great to watch,” Diamond said. “I don’t really watch it as a supporter, I watch it for work, and I’m coming away disappointed, so no doubt some of the fans are. “The result’s great but the performance wasn’t fantastic.”