Sale: 37 Tries: Hanley 2, Lund, Turner Cons: Hodgson 4 Pens: Hodgson 3 Northampton: 24 Tries: Thompson, Seely Cons: Grayson Pens: Grayson 3 Drop goals: Grayson

Sale opened the scoring through Hanley's first try but Saints led after half an hour thanks to Paul Grayson's boot and Steve Thompson's try.

Magnus Lund's controversial try gave the hosts the lead at half-time and they were never headed again.

Sale claimed their bonus point through Stuart Turner with 10 minutes to go.

Sale boss Philippe Saint-Andre tipped Hanley to get back into the England reckoning after his two-try display.

"Steve knows he has to work on his defence," said Saint-Andre. "He had a session with Kingsley Jones this week and today his defence was good.

We seemed to self-implode at the start of the second half Saints boss Budge Pountney

"He is a big runner and scores lots of tries. If his defence improves, he can get back in the England team."

Northampton coach Budge Pountney refused to blame a spate of late withdrawals for his side's defeat.

"We had a bit of a shocking morning with four guys dropping out," said the caretaker Saints boss.

"Some of the guys who came in did really well and I thought Paul Diggin had a fantastic game for his debut.

"But you can't let Sale in for easy tries - we seemed to self-implode at the start of the second half."

The hosts opened the scoring after Sebastien Chabal ripped the ball off Northampton and Andrew Sheridan powered forward before handing on to hooker Andy Titterell.

The England hopeful was hauled down just short but swift passing sent Hanley over in the left-hand corner.

England fly-half Charlie Hodgson, who had missed an earlier penalty, slotted the conversion but Northampton soon trimmed the lead to a point as Grayson knocked over a couple of penalties.

The two sides traded three-pointers through a Hodgson penalty and a Grayson drop goal before Thompson was driven over for Saints' first try.

Grayson missed the conversion, and although he slotted a penalty in first-half injury time, Sale went in ahead at the break.

Hodgson kicked his second penalty and converted Lund's controversial try after Northampton's Andrew Blowers appeared to be tackled early.

After the break Sale stretched their lad through Hanley's second try and with Hodgson converting and adding a penalty they led 30-17 with 30 minutes to play.

The hosts battered away and the bonus point finally came when replacement prop Turner was driven over, with Hodgson converting.

The final word went to Northampton as Grant Seely rounded off an incisive move under the posts, with Grayson converting, but it was no more than a consolation score.

Sale: Robinson; Cueto, Baxendell, Todd, Hanley; Hodgson, Redpath; Sheridan, Titterell, Stewart; Jones, Schofield; White, Lund, Chabal.
Replacements: Bruno, Turner, Day, Carter, Wigglesworth, Hercus, Mayor.

Northampton: Diggin; Human, Cohen, Hyndman, Tucker; Grayson, Howard; Smith, Thompson, Morris; Boome, Lord; Blowers, Fox, Beattie.
Replacements: van Wyk, Sturgess, Browne, Soden, Jones, Vilk, Seely.

Referee: Sean Davey (RFU)