Bristol Bears vs Sale Sharks
7th January 1945hrs
Rugby – England – Premiership
Pick Home Win
Bookmaker Bet365
Odds: 62/25 odds taken 21:03 GMT on January 6th, 2022
The Bristol Bears will look to shake themselves out of a long losing streak of form in what has been a very disappointing Premiership Rugby campaign.
There have been recent struggles for the Bears at Ashton Gate this season, but can they turn the tide?
Sale Sharks arrive after claiming a good solid home win over Wasps last weekend but they have been struggling for road successes. This should be a good close match.
Table of Contents
Bristol Bears Preview – Can Bears snap losing streak?
While there have been better performances recorded recently from Bristol Bears, the results still are not happening for them.
Last weekend they went to Exeter Chiefs and suffered a loss by a margin of six points.
The Bears had pulled themselves back into contention with a breakaway try for Henry Purdy, but three minutes later their own line was breached again.
That was the fourth Premiership Rugby defeat in a row for Bristol Bears.
They have slipped to back to back losses at Ashton Gate as well, falling to Northampton and Leicester Tigers in those matches.
The last time that Bristol Bears lost three straight league home matches was in the 2016/17 campaign.
Bristol Bears are W2 L3 on home turf this season in league action.
The two victories that they did put on the board in that sequence were against Bath and Worcester Warriors, who are two of the current bottom three in the table alongside the Bears.
In the match outright in rugby betting for Friday’s match, the Bears are 10/11* (odds recorded 21:03 GMT on January 6th, 2022).
In their last five league matches, Bristol Bears have only managed to score more than 20 points once.
So there has been a lack of conviction there.
The last time that the Bears went on a longer losing streak than the current four-match one that they are on, was in 2017.
There is also the head to head which needs to be addressed. Bristol Bears are down in that.
The West Country club have taken one victory in their last six against Sale Sharks which was in November 2019.
In their last four home matches against Sale (Premiership Rugby) Bristol are W1 D2 L1.
Sale Sharks Preview – Can Sale deliver on the road?
There was a very good home performance from Sale Sharks at the AJ Bell last weekend as they bossed Wasps.
That result left Sale Sharks with two wins in their last three Premiership fixtures.
It was quite a dominant performance from Sale Sharks and given the squad that they have, that should be seen more often.
Since the end of September, Sale Sharks have claimed just three wins in league action.
All three of those were at home, victories against Harlequins, Northampton Saints and then most recently Wasps.
They are a quote of 10/11 in the match outright for rugby betting on Friday night* (odds recorded 21:03 GMT on January 6th, 2022).
But it is their away form that is really called into question here.
Sale Sharks have not won on their league travels since Round 19 of the previous campaign, which was a win at Bath.
That’s a run of seven matches away from the AJ Bell that Sale Sharks have failed to win since that victory at the Rec (D1 L6).
Surprisingly it has been their lack of scoring which has hindered their road progress.
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Sale Sharks have failed to score more than 14 points in any of their last three Premiership Rugby away matches.
So for all the world, this looks like being a really tight match up at Ashton Gate.
The Sharks have won 9 of their last dozen matches against the Bristol Bears in the Premiership (D1 L2).
In 10 of those matches, Sale did score at least 20 points in a match.
They also have a higher win rate at Bristol than they do against any other team in the Premiership (7+ visits).
So they may not totally be out of this and a Sale Sharks -3 handicap is at 11/8 in Premiership Rugby betting* (odds recorded 21:03 GMT on January 6th, 2022)
Bristol Bears vs Sale Sharks Betting Advice
This is a really interesting Premiership Rugby match as Bristol Bears just can’t get themselves out of this losing streak of form, but they have been more competitive recently.
They are taking on a side that consistently struggles to produce victories away from home, but then Sale have a very strong squad and played well last weekend.
The Bristol Bears To Win pick at 10/11 is the selection in Premiership Rugby* (odds recorded 21:03 GMT on January 6th, 2022).
Key Facts – Bristol Bears vs Sale Sharks Betting Tip
- Bristol Bears have won one of their last six against Sale Sharks
- Bristol Bears have lost their last four league fixtures
- Sale Sharks are winless on their league travels this season
It’s hard to see a scenario where either of these just run away with the match so we are looking for a narrow margin.
The Bristol Bears -3 handicap looks a good pick at 6/5 as a rugby betting tip* (odds recorded 21:03 GMT on January 6th, 2022).
The deciding factor here which pushes towards the home victory, is the poor away form of Sale and their consistent lack of scoring on their league travels. The Bears may just get there.
The best betting odds for Bristol Bears vs Sale Sharks
Bristol Bears to win: 10/11 at Bet365
Draw: 20/1 at Bet365
Sale Sharks to win: 10/11 at Bet365
