Sale overcame Harlequins at Heywood Road but failed to produce the dominant display many had been expecting.

Quins were missing internationals Alex Codling, Will Greenwood, Dan Luger, Keith Wood and Paul Burke but made a mockery of their poor early-season form.

They led for much of the game and it was not until England winger Mark Cueto crossed in the 63rd minute that the Sharks looked likely to secure victory.

Even then Jim Mallinder's men had to weather a late surge which saw an injury-time try from substitute Luke Sherriff slash the deficit to a point.

But David Slemen missed the conversion and the Sharks sealed the points with a Charlie Hodgson drop-goal in the 84th minute.

Sale had dominated the opening exchanges but for all their early possession made little headway against a determined Harlequins defence.

The visitors scored first when Vilaime Satala fed winger Ben Gollings who raced down the left flank and sent flanker Pat Sanderson crashing over.

Frequent mistakes

A Hodgson penalty reduced the deficit as the Sharks continued to push forward, twice going close to touching down in the left corner.

A Nathan Williams drop-goal in the 31st minute put Harlequins further ahead but they came under intense pressure soon after when flanker Ace Tiatia was sinbinned for a late tackle on Hodgson.

Despite being a man down Harlequins finished the half the stronger with Slemen, covering for the injured Burke at fly-half, booting a penalty to give his side an 11-3 interval lead.

The Sharks hit back a minute after the break when Hodgson finished a fine team try just a minute after the break and added the conversion himself.

The match was now finely poised and both sides tightened up, kicking more often and running round the fringes when previously they had looked to send the ball wide.

Mistakes were also becoming more frequent but slick handling in the 63rd minute sent Cueto over after good work from flanker Alex Sanderson at a line-out.

Hodgson converted before the Sharks survived Quins' late fightback to clinch their third win of the season.

Sale: Robinson, Cueto, Baxendell, Deane, Hanley, Hodgson, Redpath, Thorp, Titterrell, Stewart, C. Jones, Lines, A Sanderson, Pinkerton, Anglesea. Replacements: Marais, Yates, Schofield, Perelini, Harris, Going, Walshe.

Harlequins: N Williams, Moore, Greenstock, Satala, Gollings, D Slemen, Bemand, Leonard, Fuga, Gomez, Davison, Evans, Tiatia, Sanderson, Diprose. Replacements: Rudzki, Starr, Cardinalli, Miall, Sheriff, Jewell, Duncombe.

Referee: Tony Spreadbury (England).