England and Lions lock Jonny Hill put a fan in a headlock and left him with a break up eye in ugly scenes, after Finn Russell kicked 16 factors in Bathtub’s play-off victory over Sale

Bathtub’s play-off victory over Sale resulted in ugly scenes as 6ft7in lock Jonny Hill put a fan in a headlock and left him with a break up eye.

Tensions boiled over after the ultimate whistle because the ahead, who has been capped by England and the Lions, was pulled away by Sale coach Byron McGuigan.

Hill has not performed since January due to a knee damage however he reduce a pissed off determine from the teaching seats as Sale narrowly missed out on a spot within the last.

The bust-up befell within the family and friends space of the West Stand, the place a 28-year-old Bathtub supporter was left with damaged glasses and a reduce above his proper eye.

The fan mentioned: ‘I used to be sat there, and he got here down the steps, grabbed me across the throat, snapped my sun shades and reduce the highest of my eye.

Bathtub’s play-off victory over Sale was overshadowed by ugly scenes on the last whistle

Jonny Hill, seen in 2022, put a fan in a headlock and left him with a break up eye and damaged glasses

Sale coach Alex Sanderson solely turned conscious of the incident throughout his post-match presser

‘He was like saying to me, “Do not ever do this once more”. I used to be simply giving him some banter.

‘To be sincere, all I would like is a brand new pair of sun shades. It isn’t soccer. I used to be sat with my associate and all her household (Bathtub followers). We have been Worcester followers.’

Sale coach Alex Sanderson spent the match down by the pitch and solely turned conscious of the incident throughout his post-match press convention. He mentioned: ‘It’s information to me, Jonny isn’t the aggressive kind and I’ll reply these questions after I know. I can vouch for Jonny’s character, he’s not a very aggressive spiteful individual.’

The incident overshadowed a decent contest, with Finn Russell kicking 16 factors to safe Bathtub’s place in Saturday’s last in opposition to Northampton.

Bathtub haven’t received the Premiership since 1996 and membership legend Jeremy Guscott was sat within the stands as Johan van Graan’s facet bid to finish their trophy drought.

Russell’s line-break helped create the sphere place for Ted Hill’s opening attempt, with the fly-half kicking a penalty to present the hosts an eight-point lead.

Having invested closely of their squad, the strain on Bathtub shoulders was evident. Each groups broke via in assault however lacked the completion. You’d count on Northampton to have a much more ruthless edge within the last.

‘Our self-discipline allowed them again into our 22 repeatedly and you may solely take in that strain for thus lengthy,’ mentioned Sanderson. ‘We felt at occasions we had the successful of the sport and these large video games activate very small hinges, a few hits and a few penalties.’

Ollie Lawrence’s deal with on Tom O’Flaherty epitomised Bathtub’s determined scramble defence that saved Sale at bay. If Manu Tuilagi have been taking part in, it could effectively have been a unique story.

Ben Curry scored from a driving lineout for Sale earlier than Beno Obano restored Bathtub’s lead off the again of Will Muir’s 50-22 kick. Sale’s penalty rely was excessive and Russell took benefit from the tee.

‘We have been 18-5 up – credit score to Sale, what a superb facet, they got here again to 18-all – after which it was can we deal with the strain? And sure, we did,’ mentioned Van Graan.

‘I’m pleased with the best way we closed the sport down. The imaginative and prescient I offered to everybody on July 11, 2022 was that I’d that respect out previous, however we begin from zero. ‘We have gone from hoping as a membership to believing we are able to win. We got here via an unbelievable quantity of strain at this time.

Finn Russell kicked 16 factors to safe Bathtub’s place in Saturday’s last in opposition to Northampton

Bathtub’s Head Coach Johann van Graan was pleased with the best way his facet closed the sport down

George Ford’s correct touch-kicking arrange Tommy Taylor for one more lineout attempt, weathering the storm and leaving Bathtub with simply three factors to indicate for his or her spectacular first half.

Sanderson urged his gamers to indicate extra ‘violence’ within the collisions through the second half and their efforts led to Ford levelling the rating from the kicking tee.

Making his first look of the season, Tom Curry returned from the bench and moments later, O’Flaherty chased a kick to present Sale the lead.

However Bathtub’s big-money funding in Russell ultimately paid off, with the No 10 kicking one other penalty, earlier than changing Niall Annett’s attempt to give his facet an unassailable lead.