Sale (13) 21
Tries: Gaskell, Cohen Con: Hodgson Pens: Hodgson 3
Harlequins (6) 16
Try: Guest Con: Clegg Pens: Evans 3

Lock James Gaskell runs in for Sale's opening try

Sale recorded their third win over Harlequins in 20 days as they hung on for victory at Edgeley Park.

The home side, who were heavily beaten by Leicester last time out, led at the break with two Charlie Hodgson penalties and a James Gaskell try.

Quins fly-half Nick Evans kept his side in touch but another Hodgson penalty and Ben Cohen's try extended the lead.

Tom Guest barged over to put Quins within five points but wing Ugo Monye's try was ruled out for a foot in touch.

The victory is Sale's first in the league since November and pulls them away from the relegation zone, while Quins have now lost their last four games in all competitions - including two back-to-back Heineken Cup defeats against the Sharks last month.

The staging of the match was put in doubt because of the cold weather, with the pitch only passed fit an hour before kick-off.

Hodgson and Evans kicked two penalties each before Sale scored the first try, hooker Neil Briggs tearing through the heart of the Quins defence before sending the supporting Gaskell over.

Quins reduced the deficit through an Evans penalty early in the second half but Sale were more purposeful after the break and Cohen charged over to make the score 21-9.

The visitors made sure of a grandstand finish when substitute Guest scored from close range with 18 minutes left on the clock.

Quins piled on the pressure in the last five minutes but the Sale line held firm, with Hodgson putting in the crucial tackle on Monye to get him just out of touch before the England wing got the ball down.

Sale director of rugby Kingsley Jones:
"I'll be honest, I was really worried in the last 15 minutes.

"It's no coincidence that Quins finish really strong. At the end of every game they come back. I was really concerned that we had let the game slip.

"But the way Charlie Hodgson made that tackle sums up the way he is playing at the moment. Any flanker would have been proud of that tackle. It's importance is massive.

"I've over the moon with Charlie. I think he's playing the rugby of his life.

"The tackle just sums up the attitude of the whole squad. The extra 1% commitment and the spirit we have here showed through."

Harlequins head coach John Kingston:
"We felt we had just about done enough up here in the Heineken and we certainly feel we've done enough.

"I'm glad we're not coming back here for a little while.

"I felt it would have been the least we deserved had we scored the try at the end because we knuckled down and stuck at it.

"It's a very disappointed changing room because they put in a huge amount of effort and I think probably deserve far more than they got."

Sale: MacLeod; Cueto, M Tait, Kennedy, Cohen; Hodgson, Peel; Kerr, Briggs, E Roberts, Schofield, Gaskell, Fearns, Seymour, Koyamailbole.
Replacements: O'Donnell for Kerr (41), Schwalger for Briggs (62), Halsall for O'Donnell (50).
Not Used: C Jones, Abraham, Wigglesworth, Bell, Doherty.

Harlequins: Brown; Strettle, Lowe, Masson, Williams; N Evans, Care, Croall, Cairns, Lambert, Percival, Robson, Robshaw, Skinner, Easter.
Replacements: Monye for Strettle (50), Jones for Croall (57), Fuga for Cairns (57), Johnston for Lambert (57), Stevenson for Percival (72), Guest for Robshaw (46), Clegg for Easter (57).
Not Used: Dickson.

Att: 8,172

Ref: Chris White (RFU).

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