Bristol Bears vs Sale Sharks
15th April 2022 – Kick Off 2000hrs
Rugby – England – Heineken Cup
Pick Bristol Bears -3 handicap
Bookmaker Marathonbet
Odds: 10/11 odds taken 05:49 GMT on April 23rd, 2022
This Round of 16 match in the Heineken Cup between two English Premiership clubs will be settled on Friday night.
The tie is nicely balanced as things stand after a tight encounter between the two sides at the AJ Bell.
Who has the quality to get over the line as Bristol look to defend home territory in a fascinating showdown?
Table of Contents
Bristol Bears Preview – Home advantage for Bears
Bristol Bears, who have had far from a great Premiership season, hold a slender advantage in this tie.
It was a narrow 10-9 win that they banked on AJ Bell a week ago.
Semi Randrandra came off the bench to score the only try of the matches with ten minutes to go.
Randranda has scored three tries in his last two European fixtures.
In the match outright for Heineken Cup rugby betting, Bristol are 8/13 for the win* (odds recorded 05:49 GMT on April 23rd, 2022 at Marathonbet)
How much of an advantage do they now hold with the second leg at home?
With last weekend’s success under their belt, Bristol Bears have the chance to win four straight European matches for the first time in the European Champions Cup.
This will be the first home match they have had in the knockout stage of the Heineken Cup.
Bristol have completed the one home match this season in the European Cup.
That was a good 28-17 win over Stade Francais in mid-January.
It has been a W5 L3 record by Bristol Bears in their last eight home matches in all competitions.
There was a Premiership meeting at Ashton Gate between Bristol and Sale in January.
The Bears won the day on that occasion by a healthy 17 point margin.
A Bristol -3 handicap in rugby betting is at a quote of 10/11* (odds recorded 05:49 GMT on April 23rd, 2022 at Marathonbet).
Bristol Bears have won two of their last three home matches against the Sharks.
Sale Sharks Preview – Visitors face a stern test
Did Sale Sharks miss a sizable opportunity in this European tie last weekend at the AJ Bell?
Their home form has been better than that of their road form this term.
But there have been some recent improvements by the Sharks on their travels.
It’s been three wins in their last four on the road (not counting Premiership Cup matches) with a W2 D1 L1 return.
Last weekend’s meeting between the two clubs was the first in Europe.
In the match outright for Friday, Sale are 6/5 for the win* (odds recorded 05:49 GMT on April 23rd, 2022 at Marathonbet).
Sale Sharks have scored at least 22 points in three of their last four road matches (Premiership).
But some stats suggest that this is going to be a tough day for them.
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Sale have lost their last seven matches played against fellow Premiership teams in the Heineken Cup.
Three of those were road games, and the average margin of defeat for Sale in those matches was 28 points.
Overall away from the AJ Bell in the Heineken Cup, Sale are W2 L16 in their eighteen.
However, the two wins in that sequence did come in their last four.
Recent league wins at Harlequins and Northampton suggest that Sale are far from done in this tie.
With just a one-point deficit to overcome, can they pull it off?
Bristol Bears vs Sale Sharks Betting Advice
Bristol Bears have to be fancied just to get across the line in this one. Four of their last six home matches they have won (not including Premiership Cup).
In that sequence, they took a converging league victory over Sale.
So the Bristol -3 handicap is the first selection at 10/11* (odds recorded 05:49 GMT on April 23rd, 2022 at Marathonbet).
Key Facts – Bristol Bears vs Sale Sharks Betting Tip
- Bristol Bears have won their last three European fixtures
- Bristol Bears beat Sale at home this season in the Premiership
- Sale Sharks have lost 16 of their last 18 Heineken Cup away match
There is a lot on the line of course and therefore the margin is probably going to be tight again between the two.
Nothing really split them last weekend, in a match that could have gone either way.
Bristol Bears 1-5 winning margin at 4/1 is the second rugby betting tip* (odds recorded 05:49 GMT on April 23rd, 2022 at Marathonbet)
The best betting odds for Bristol Bears vs Sale Sharks
Bristol Bears to win: 8/13 at Bet365
Draw: 20/1 at Bet365
Sale Sharks to win: 6/5 at Bet365
