Hanley and his team-mates struggled

A brace of late tries from Sale Sharks gave the visitors a deceptively comfortable victory over London Irish in the Zurich Premiership.

Seven places separate the two sides in the league table, but second-placed Sale were thwarted until Iain Fullarton and Andy Titterrell secured victory.

Things could have been very different at the start, with Michael Horak giving Irish the perfect start with a fifth-minute try.

I always knew this was going to be a hard-fought game but we kept our nerve in the final 15 to 20 minutes and scored a crucial try when it was 11 all Sale boss Jim Mallinder

Immediately the Sharks were under pressure with captain Bryan Redpath's clearance kick blocked dangerously close to their try line.

Irish made the most of their lineout and after a catch and drive the ball was passed out wide by Barry Everitt, setting up Horak.

Match facts

London Irish 11 Tries: Horak Cons: Pens: Mapletoft (2) Sale 23 Tries: Hanley, Fullarton, Titterell Cons: Hodgson Pens: Hodgson (2)

Sale gradually regained their composure and, after just missing out on a 25th-minute try, England fly-half Charlie Hodgson successfully landed a penalty.

The then put the pressure on the Exiles and, despite failing to score a try in the first half, Hodgson crucially gave his side the lead with an injury-time penalty.

From the restart, Sale had the upper hand, putting London Irish on the back foot.

And their hard work paid off when Redpath cleverly flicked the ball inside to winger Steve Hanley.

I can see why they are second in the table. They have the best back line bar none in the Zurich Premiership London Irish chief Conor O'Shea

But with Hodgson missing the conversion London Irish had no intentions of giving up.

Two penalties from the boot of full-back Mark Mapletoft levelled the scores at 11-11 in the 72nd minute.

Hodgson then missed a dropped goal before Fullarton caught Irish on the hop, breaking through the line unchallenged to score.

Hodgson converted the effort, before hooker Titterrell added insult to injury with his 82nd-minute try.

London Irish: Mapletoft; Sackey, Burrows, Venter, Horak; Everitt, Martens; Worsley, Kirke, Hardwick, Casey, Kennedy, Gustard, Dawson, Sheasby.
Replacements: Barrett, Appleford, Danaher, Flavin, Delaney, Hatley, Halford.

Sale: Robinson; Cueto, Harris, Bond, Hanley; Hodgson, Redpath; Yates, Titterrell, Stewart, Jones, Schofield, Anglesea, Pinkerton, Sanderson.
Replacements: Marais, Turner, Fullarton, Davies, Baxendell, Going, Walshe.

Referee: N Williams (WRU)