England fly-half Charlie Hodgson produced the ideal response to last Sunday’s Twickenham nightmare by guiding Sale Sharks to a 19-10 Premiership win over Leeds Tykes on Friday night.
Hodgson did his British & Irish Lions chances no favours with a woeful kicking display against France, but he put himself back in contention for a place on this summer’s tour of New Zealand with a composed display which included three penalties, a conversion and a dropped goal.
In a game littered with handling errors and some bizarre decision making, Hodgson stood out like a beacon, directing affairs with a cool authority.
And although the game was played out in front of just over 7,500 in the cosy surroundings of Edgeley Park – rather than 75,000 for England against France at Twickenham – Hodgson has at least taken the first steps on the road to redemption.
The 24-year-old could scarcely have asked for an easier first shot at goal, as Leeds encroached in front of the posts just 15 metres out. The fly-half duly slotted the penalty to make it 3-0 to the Sharks.
His next effort was altogether more difficult, but he struck a sweet kick from the right hand touchline to make it 6-0.
Next he managed to achieve what he failed to at Twickenham last week and knocked over the simplest of dropped goals.
He then converted Andrew Sheridan’s try before a final penalty success made the game safe.
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