Harlequins (12) 38
Tries: Botha, Stegmann, Guest, Barry Pens: Malone 4 Cons: Malone 3

Sale (12) 20
Try: Hodgson Pens: Hodgson 5

Guest goes over for one of Quins' four second-half tries

Harlequins dealt Sale's play-off hopes a big blow with victory at The Stoop, while greatly enhancing their own.

The hosts scored four second-half tries through Gary Botha, Seb Stegmann, Tom Guest and De Wet Barry, and secured what could be a crucial bonus point.

Fly-half Chris Malone, in for the injured Nick Evans, kicked 18 points.

Charlie Hodgson kicked five penalties and a late consolation try for the visitors, who have now lost seven of their last eight away matches.

Harlequins coach Dean Richards:
"Andy Gomarsall played very well today in parts and Seb Stegmann was outstanding in parts.

"De Wet Barry took his try very well, Chris Malone kicked extremely well and the pack worked well as a unit.

"We have a squad of players and it's such that the guys that will come back from England are not guaranteed spots."

Sale director of rugby Kingsley Jones:
"We've played five away games without any of our internationals.

"But tomorrow is our new season and we are preparing for four massive games, starting with Bath on Friday night."

On the game, he conceded: "Harlequins were clinical. They had a few opportunities and took them - we had a lot of opportunities and didn't."

Harlequins: Brown; Stegmann, Strettle, Barry, T Williams; Malone, Gomarsall; Jones, Botha, Lambert, Percival, J. Evans, Robshaw, Skinner, Guest.
Replacements: Turner-Hall for Strettle (67), Luveniyali for Malone (75), Poluleuligaga for Gomarsall (61), Fuga for Botha (61), McMillan for Lambert (72), Robson for Percival (61).
Not Used: Ross.

Sale: McLeod; Lamont, McAlister, Keil, Doherty; Hodgson, Cliff; O'Donnell, Bruno, Roberts, C. Jones, Cockbain, Fearns, Briggs, Fernandez Lobbe.
Replacements: Ripol for Lamont (60), Kennedy for McAlister (26), Turner for O'Donnell (70), Gaskell for Bruno (76), Ward for Roberts (72), Cox for Cockbain (70), D Tait for Fearns (60).

Sin Bin: Keil (39).

Att: 12,500

Ref: Chris White (RFU).

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