Harlequins suffered their worst-ever home defeat in the Premiership as a six-match unbeaten run at the Stoop was demolished by the rampant Sharks.

The visitors closed the gap on leaders Gloucester to seven points but barely had to break into a sweat as they scored five tries with ease.

Four of them came in the second half when Quins - who face five of their remaining seven matches away from home - barely threatened.

Charlie Hodgson, in England's squad to face France next week, kicked the visitors into a first-minute lead and scored 23 points in all including a try.

Match facts

Harlequins 0 (0) Sale 45 (13) Tries: Jones, Bond, Cueto, Hodgson, Hanley Cons: Hodgson 3, Walshe Pens: Hodgson 4

The Sharks went further in front when lock Chris Jones took a simple pass from Australian centre Graeme Bond and barged through a desperate tackle from Dan Luger - playing a first-ever game at full-back.

Hodgson comfortably converted and added a second penalty before the break for a 13-0 interval lead.

Quins needed to score early in the second half, but instead it was Hodgson who extended the Sharks advantage with another penalty.

Paul Burke then missed the home side's only chance of points when he wasted a kickable penalty chance.

Three minutes later it was all over when Bond strolled in without a Quins player near him.

Hodgson's conversion made it 23-0, and in desperation Quins coach Mark Evans made four changes, three in the forwards.

Hodgson enjoyed a 23-point haul

But Hodgson's interception of Will Greenwood's attempted pass denied Quins a try and the stand-off nailed yet another penalty to leave the home side staring into an abyss.

Sale proceeded to score three more tries in the final quarter to earn a bonus point in a landslide win.

First Mark Cueto scampered home from 30 metres following good work from Dan Harris and then Hodgson strolled in at the right-hand corner, converting for good measure.

Quins managed to hold out until stoppage time when wing Steve Hanley powered home for the final try, former Harlequin Nick Walshe adding the final conversion.

Harlequins: Luger; Jewell, Greenwood, Satala, Moore; Burke, Bemand; Starr, Fuga, Leonard, Davison, Codling, Tiatia, Vos, Diprose.
Replacements: Cardinalli, Miall, Evans, Sheriff, M Powell, Slemen, Barratt.

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

Referee: Steve Lander (RFU)