Bath: (18) 27 Tries: Scaysbrook, Crockett Cons: Barkley Pen: Barkley 5 Sale: (13) 13 Tries: Lund Cons: Hercus Pens: Hercus 2

Bath were missing Steve Borthwick, Danny Grewcock and Mike Tindall on international duty with England but still had a more settled line-up.

Tries from James Scaysbrook and Alex Crockett and the boot of Olly Barkley put Bath in control at 18-0.

Mike Hercus' kicking and a try from Magnus Lund were not enough for Sale.

Sale head coach Philippe Saint-Andre had only one hooker available in John Roddam with both Andy Titterrell and Sebastien Bruno on bench duty for England and France respectively.

Bath continue to field a number of players struggling for fitness but could welcome back Matt Perry after two months out with injury.

And the home side hit the ground running, stretching Sale before flanker Scaysbrook found a gap to score the first try after five minutes.

It's difficult to play without 10 of your best players Sale head coach Philippe Saint-Andre

Barkley increased the lead with two penalties before Crockett collected a lofted kick by Chris Malone to put Bath seemingly out of sight.

But Hercus finally found his range with a penalty on 36 minutes and when Lund scored a charge-down try two minutes later, there was hope for the league leaders.

Sale closed to 18-13 down when Hercus slotted the conversion and another penalty before Barkley settled Bath's nerves with three kicks of his own.

Saint-Andre blamed the defeat on the loss of players to the autumn internationals.

"We had a great start to the season but the success has now begun to penalise us," said Saint-Andre.

"It's difficult to play without 10 of your best players, especially with a squad of only 31.

"It's very disappointing. In the first 20 minutes we did not believe we could win - we were not clinical at all."

Bath coach John Connolly praised the performance of full-back Matt Perry on his return from two months out of the game strengthening his hamstrings.

"I think that is the best I have seen Matt play since I arrived at the club," said Connolly.

"He is tired and it was a risk to put him out there after a long lay-off."

Bath: Perry, Welsh, Crockett, Barkley, Daniel, Malone, Walshe, Barnes, Humphreys, Bell, Hudson, Fidler, Scaysbrook, Lipman, Fea'unati.
Replacements: Mears, Loader, Smith, Lewis, Maddock, Wood, Davey.

Sale: Todd, Moore, Baxendell, Rhys Jones, Mayor, Hercus, Martens, Turner, Roddam, Stewart, Day, Schofield, Jones, Lund, Chabal.
Replacements: Halsall, Bozzi, Caillet, Carter, Redpath, Hayward, Wigglesworth.