Sale (15) 34
Tries: Lamont, Cueto, Foden, Schofield
Cons: Hodgson
Pens: Hodgson, McAlister 3

All Blacks star Luke McAllister helped set up a try with his first touch in English rugby as Sale eased to victory.

The centre combined with Lee Thomas to put Rory Lamont clear for the opening score and Charlie Hodgson's cross-field kick put Mark Cueto in for the second.

Ben Foden jinked through for Sale's third try and though Pat Sanderson went over twice, Worcester were well beaten.

McAlister kicked three penalties and Dean Schofield's last-minute try sealed a comfortable Sale win and bonus point.

All the pre-game hype had been about McAllister and he did not disappoint.

He stood firm in the tackle, found space, and showed real deftness and vision in his passing, to add an attacking dimension to the Sharks, who are now fifth in the Premiership table.

Sanderson notched his double after Sale had England prop Andrew Sheridan and hooker Sebastien Bruno sin-binned for a late-tackle on Warriors wing Thinus Delport and brawl with Worcester flanker Tom Wood, who was also shown a yellow card.

"Luke McAlister is a world-class player, and it is so much easier when you have a player on the pitch like him. It is a terrific signing for us.

"He and Charlie Hodgson are two of the best playmakers in the world. Charlie is back to his best, and we have a good mix.

"When we had the ball we looked so dangerous, but sometimes we didn't keep the ball enough. We lacked patience. To win away though, is a good feeling, and our biggest challenge is to finish in the top four."

"We were very competitive but Sale were clinical. They had an extra bit of edge out wide.

"We are down, but we are not out. We needed to be at the top of our game, but we weren't.

"At 15-0 behind, we were always up against it. We didn't get a good start, but we will keep going."

Worcester: Pennell, Delport, Rasmussen, Tucker, Garvey, Drahm, M Powell, R Powell, Lutui, Tuamoepeau, Murphy, Gillies, Wood, Sanderson, Talei.
Replacements: Feaunati, Mullan, Fortey, Rawlinson, Horstmann, Runciman, Carlisle.