Sale (16) 36 Tries: Williams 2, Addison, Hodgson Cons: Hodgson 2 Pens: Hodgson 4 Gloucester (13) 31 Tries: Molenaar, May, penalty Cons: Burns, Taylor Pens: Burns 3, Taylor
Hodgson is to join Saracens at the end of the season after 11 years with Sale
Fly-half Charlie Hodgson passed 1,000 points at Edgeley Park as he inspired Sale to a 36-31 win over Gloucester.
Hodgson scored Sale's final try and kicked 16 points after the visitors had taken the lead through Tim Molenaar.
Paul Williams went over on the stroke of half-time to give the home side a 16-13 interval lead.
Will Addison, Williams and Hodgson then added second-half tries for Sale, Jonny May and a penalty try replying for third-placed Gloucester.
Sale's victory virtually assures their Premiership place but Gloucester have now lost two successive away matches, missing the chance to make significant ground on leaders Leicester.
Freddie Burns put the visitors ahead with an early penalty, to which Hodgson soon replied.
Having gone into the game on 999 points, his kick earned him rich applause from the 6,888 crowd.
Gloucester went ahead again with a well-worked try in the 19th minute, as Burns' short offload ushered Molenaar over the line from close range.
Charlie Hodgson's a world-class player isn't he? He will be sadly missed
Sale executive director of sport Steve Diamond
Burns kicked the extras and added a penalty, but the outgoing Hodgson, who will join Saracens at the end of the season, twice replied with kicks of his own.
The visitiors were dealt a hammer blow on the stroke of half-time when Andy Tuilagi's powerful run down the right channel sent Williams scampering over in the right corner.
Hodgson's conversion ensured Sale had a 16-13 lead at half time but Burns booted another penalty to level just after the restart.
After Hodgson kicked his fourth penalty of the night, Addison stole possession to race clear for Sale's second try, and three minutes later Williams went over again.
Tim Taylor soon replied with a penalty, but Hodgson was determined to crown his memorable night in style, running in Sale's fourth try in the 64th minute.
May went over in the right corner for Gloucester's first try of the second half and, in the closing stages, the visitors were awarded a penalty try, which Taylor converted, to secure a bonus point.
Sale executive director of sport Steve Diamond: "Charlie Hodgson's a world-class player isn't he? He wanted to be captain, which was great and it was a fantastic performance from him.
"He's bright. He sees things that other players don't and he will be sadly missed.
"We've got two more home games still to come and I think we'll be fine now."
Gloucester head coach Bryan Redpath told BBC Radio Gloucestershire:
"I thought the referee had a terrible decision, the try just before half time was a clear obstruction and seemingly his mic had broken and the touch judge said that he [the referee] couldn't hear him.
"We leaked two or three soft tries, so we can't keep using someone else externally as an excuse - a point away from home may seem a good point, but I see it as an opportunity wasted.
"We need to be street wise, we need to be smart and we need to understand away games, we need to understand what pressure is put on us and our game and we've got to learn and keep learning."
Replacements: Addison for Cohen (26), Thornley for Tuilagi (65), McMillan for E Roberts (71), M. Jones for Briggs (69), Rouse for C Jones (78). Not Used: Imiolek, McIntyre, Leck.
Gloucester: Morgan; May, Trinder, Molenaar, Voyce; Burns, R Lawson; Wood, S Lawson, Doran-Jones; Attwood, Brown; Strokosch, Qera, Narraway (capt).
Replacements: Fuimaono-Sapolu for Molenaar (41), Taylor for Burns (56), Pasqualin for R Lawson (69), Dickinson for Wood (69), Azam for S. Lawson (59), Harden for Doran-Jones (56), James for Brown (73), Deacon for Narraway (62).
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