Glasgow trialist, Alex Mockford, went off with a bad knee injury

It is difficult to escape the notion that Glasgow supporters are going to have to get used to this in the coming weeks. With their squad cut to 28 players, their internationals being kept out of a clutch of games and injuries piling up, there is a real danger of ‘men-against-boys' being the common theme of visits to Hughenden.

Though never getting out of second gear, Sale dominated the first half with a powerful set-piece having cruised into a 19-0 lead after just 15 minutes. Though they worked tirelessly to gain possession and claw a way back, showing greater promise with ball in hand in the second half, Glasgow never really looked like winning.

Their first injury last night - scrum-half Graeme Beveridge - cruelly underlined Glasgow’s injury crisis. He is currently their only fit scrum-half and with the district’s leading clubs refusing to release any players last night - somewhat contradicting the pledge by Kenny Hamilton of Glasgow Hawks this week that clubs were keen to help the professional side through this difficult time - they had to delve into Division Three for help. Hillhead/Jordanhill answered Glasgow’s SOS and supplied 20-year-old South African Alasdhair ‘AJ’ MacFarlane yesterday morning.

He was pressed into service with five minutes of the first half left, and didn’t let himself down, when Beveridge left the field with a head gash which required ten stitches.

It helped turn the tide of a first half in which Sale were cruising without really being stretched. Their points had come from tries by Chris Mayor, the right wing, Steve Hanley and Mike Hercus, the USA fly-half. Hercus, partnering Bryan Redpath, converted two.

With two minutes of the half remaining, quick ball was moved first right, then left and after Nathan Ross had been denied it came right again. A neat chip-and-chase by another new face at Glasgow, Scott Barrow, took him through Sale’s flat back line and he touched down to the right of the posts, Calvin Howarth converting.

Hercus finished the half with a penalty to put Sale 22-10 up, but Glasgow started the second period much brighter and a great darting run by MacFarlane opened Sale up. His chip-and-chase was collected by Mark Cueto by the Sale posts and cleared. After eight minutes Andy Hall did reach the line to finish a determined build-up. Colin Gregor, on for Howarth and adding some spark to the home attack, converted from wide on the right and the five-point deficit suggested the game was back on.

However, the hosts made the cardinal sin of missing tackles on Cueto and then standing off him, and he duly raced deep into the home half and fed Mayor, who ran in for an easy second try, which was converted by Hercus.

Glasgow responded with a Gregor penalty, but then lost Alex Mockford - a trialist No 8 from Pau - to a serious knee injury after the incident which led to the penalty award. Sale continued to swap personnel with the intriguing introduction of Mike Bartlett, released by Glasgow at the end of last season, but the home spirit and improved tackling and composure in possession was bridging the divide. Crucially, there remained a lack of threat in the Sale 22 and continued errors - highlighted by Andy Henderson’s loose pass intercepted by John Carter for another Sale try in injury-time - ensured any hopes of a home victory remained buried.

Report by David Ferguson from The Scotsman