Sale 19 (9): Tries: Sheridan Cons: Hodgson Pens: Hodgson 3 Drop goals: Hodgson Leeds 10 (3): Tries: Christophers Cons: Ross Pens: Ross

The fly-half turned in a composed display which included three penalties, a conversion and a dropped goal.

But the game was full of errors and it took 52 minutes for Sale to score the first try thanks to Andrew Sheridan.

Phil Christophers grabbed a late score for the Tykes and Gordon Ross added the extras but Hodgson's good work was enough to seal the win for Sale.

The match was a scrappy affair and the first time either side managed to string a sequence of passes together, Leeds took the spoils.

Former England winger Christophers made a powerful break through the Sale defence and the ball was taken on by Richard Parks.

I'm very pleased for Charlie Hodgson because he has had a very tough week Sale boss Philippe Saint-Andre

Sale's backs crept offside from the resulting ruck and Gordon Ross kicked the ensuing penalty.

Sale responded immediately, courtesy of a mix-up between Tim Stimpson and Parks from the re-start.

The ball was worked to Hodgson and he managed to achieve what he failed to at Twickenham last week and knocked over the simplest of dropped goals.

Sale should have scored the first try of the night 10 minutes into the second half after Hodgson struck a measured cross-field kick straight into the arms of his international colleague Mark Cueto.

There were lots of things to be pleased about and lots of things to be despondent about Leeds boss Phil Davies

But Cueto failed to spot the supporting Jason Robinson on his inside and the chance was lost.

Soon after the Sale pack made the breakthrough, surging forward to allow Sheridan to gallop over the line from 15 metres out.

Christophers side-stepped his way through for a late try for the Tykes but it was no more than consolation as Sale comfortably secured their third consecutive Premiership win.

While the Sharks are well placed to secure a play-off spot, the Tykes are under increasing threat of relegation, three points off the bottom.

Sale: Robinson, Cueto, Baxendell, Todd, Hanley, Hodgson, Redpath, Sheridan, Titterell, Stewart, Jones, Schofield, White, Lund, Chabal.
Replacements: Rhys Jones for Todd (29), Carter for White (41), Bruno for Titterell (51), Martens for Redpath (63), Turner for Stewart (66), Day for Jones (74). Not Used: Hercus.

Leeds: Balshaw, Snyman, Christophers, Bell, Stimpson, Ross, Dickens, Kerr, Rawlinson, Gerber, Morgan, Palmer, Dunbar, Parks, Rigney.
Replacements: Regan for Rawlinson (54), Murphy for Dunbar (54), Popham for Rigney (54), Rees for Stimpson (67). Not Used: Cusack, Hooper, McMillan.

Referee: Steve Lander (Cheshire)