MATCH SUMMARY Sale (9) 38 Tries: Hodgson, Mayor, Cueto, Jones Cons: Hodgson 3 Pens: Hodgson 4 Bath (7) 12 Tries: Malone, Hudson Con: Malone

Hodgson landed three penalties before Chris Malone converted his own try for Bath just before half-time.

But Hodgson added another penalty on the resumption before crossing for a try which he also converted.

James Hudson grabbed a second Bath try but Chris Mayor, Mark Cueto and Chris Jones all crossed late on for Sale.

The late Sharks blitz came in the final three minutes and the final two tries - both superb length-of-the-field moves - secured a bonus point to guarantee top spot.

Bath turned down kicks at goal early on in a bold bid for tries but failed to breach the Sharks defence.

Sale, by contrast, opted to take the points and Hodgson was on the mark in the 14th, 17th and 27th minutes.

But Malone, from a fine pass from Nick Walshe, dribbled a neat kick in behind the Sale backline and ran on to scoop the ball up and dive over, his conversion cutting the deficit to 9-7.

Sale wasted two good opportunities after Hodgson's fourth penalty before the fly-half's inspired try, feigning an inside lay-off to Elvis Seveali'i, beating Malone with a side-step before sprinting inside Alex Crockett to race over untouched.

Lock Hudson dived over in the right corner for Bath after a long mis-pass by Malone, but Mayor's try opened the floodgates for a late flurry of points.