Jason White dives over to score the first of Sale's tries

Sale moved into third place and a Premiership play-off spot with a hard-earned victory at Bristol on Friday.

After a scoreless first half - for only the fourth time since the Premiership started in 1997 - the Sharks scored three second-half tries.

Jason White, Ben Foden and Chris Jones all crossed, Charlie Hodgson converting all three and adding a drop-goal.

Neil Brew and David Lemi tries earned Bristol a bonus point but they slipped to a third straight league defeat.

While it will not affect the hosts' league position - they remain well clear of the bottom but out of contention for Heineken Cup qualification - the victory boosted Sale's own European hopes.

With the rest of the leaders playing over the weekend, the Sharks may drop out of the top four again, but play their game in hand against Wasps in High Wycombe on Tuesday evening.

The visitors dominated early on without reward, the closest they came to scoring in the opening period when Charlie Hodgson slipped a reverse pass to Mark Cueto only for the England wing to knock on after a tackle from Dan Ward-Smith.

Hodgson saw a 45m penalty attempt fall short before the interval and Sale director of rugby Philippe Saint Andre introduced Luke McAlister for Cueto and Brent Cockbain for Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe at half-time.

Bristol might have scored on the resumption when Shaun Perry broke away but his chip ahead for Lemi was too long.

Ed Barnes did slot the opening points with a penalty but Sale responded with Richard Wigglesworth, Elvis Seveali'i and Sean Cox combining before White ploughed over.

Centre Brew briefly regained the lead for Bristol when he fended off Foden to touch down, Barnes converting.

But the Sharks again replied quickly with Foden side-stepping his way to the line for Hodgson to add the simple conversion.

Hodgson then slotted a drop-goal between the uprights before converting Jones's touchdown.

Bristol should have scored when replacement Andrew Blowers knocked-on over the line before wing Lemi grabbed a late consolation.

Bristol director of rugby Richard Hill:
"In the first half we made too many errors - I think there were 10 knock-ons - which didn't help putting any pressure on Sale.

"It was pretty even until Luke McAlister came on. Sale are a quality side while for us there was nothing on this game.

"We played our part and tried to play some decent stuff and at least came back and scored a try at the end which was just reward for the effort that went in. But we were disappointed to concede three softish tries."

Sale director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre:
"I think this is the first game that we have played on a dry pitch since December. We played some good rugby in the first half but we didn't get enough quick ball.

"Luke McAlister made a big impact in midfield when he came on and it was a fantastic try by (Northampton-bound) Ben Foden.

"He'd made a mistake just before where he missed a tackle (when Neil Brew scored) but he has some fantastic skills.

"I think he is potentially an international full-back and I still think full-back is his place. He is quick, he is strong, he can break the first tackle and he has the gas."

Bristol: L. Arscott, T. Arscott, Higgitt, Brew, Lemi, Barnes, Perry, Crompton, Linklater, Hobson, Winters, Hohneck, Salter, El Abd, Ward-Smith.
Replacements: Regan, Bracken, Budgett, Blowers, Thomas, Strange, Eves.

Sale: Foden, Cueto, Bell, Sevealai'i, Ripol, Hodgson, Wigglesworth, Sheridan, Bruno, Turner, I Fernandez Lobbe, Cox, White, C Jones, J Fernandez Lobbe.
Replacements: Briggs, Roberts, Cockbain, Lund, Cliff, McAlister, Kuadey.