X-rays for Sale forward caught in ruck

Sale forward Andy Whittle underwent neck X-rays last night after being taken off on a stretcher during the 34-32 Premiership defeat at Bath. Referee Ashley Rowden held up the game for seven minutes while Whittle received treatment. He was then taken to Bath's Royal United Hospital by ambulance, leaving the club anxiously awaiting a health bulletin.

Sale rugby director Adrian Hadley said: 'There was nothing untoward in how it happened. He seemed to be at the bottom of a ruck.

'He had no feeling in his arms but we were told he is getting that back now.' Whittle's injury produced a chilling flashback for those Sale players and officials who witnessed their former England A centre Andy Blyth suffering serious injury in a League game against Saracens eight months ago.

Blyth is now out of a wheelchair and back at the family home in Northumberland but Hadley added: 'We had visions of Saracens all over again but hopefully that is not the case this time.' Sale recovered superbly from losing Whittle and shaded Bath four-three on tries - skipper Guy Manson-Bishop's late touchdown guaranteeing a frantic finale before the hosts sealed their first League victory since mid-September.

Prop John Mallett, skipper Ben Clarke and fly half Shaun Berne scored tries but it was scrum half Jon Preston's goalkicking that made a telling difference as the New Zealander landed 19 points.

Bath's former England centre Jeremy Guscott, making his first League start for 18 months, lasted the distance. London Irish fly half Barry Everitt kicked all the points to secure a fifth Premiership victory of the season with a 21-16 win against Harlequins at the Madejski Stadium yesterday.