Sale (7) 28
Tries: Penalty, Chabal, Keil, Wigglesworth Cons: Hodgson 4
Harlequins (3) 6
Pens: Luveniyali, Gomarsall

Sebastien Chabal (right) played a key role in Sale's impressive win

Sale's Sebastien Chabal marked his return to action with a second-half try to help his side to a bonus-point win over Harlequins at Edgeley Park.

Chabal found the space to burrow over shortly after the restart to help Sale keep alive their play-off hopes.

Replacement Rudi Keil added a third score for the hosts in the 63rd minute to add to a first-half penalty try.

Replacement Richard Wigglesworth scored late on to secure Sale's place in next season's Heineken Cup.

Kingsley Jones' men must now beat Northampton at home next Saturday to stand any chance of finishing in the top four after losing five of their previous six Premiership outings prior to this encounter.

Sale's Charlie Hodgson missed an early penalty and the home side then had winger Oriol Ripol sin-binned before Harlequins took advantage to level through a Waisea Luveniyali penalty after 17 minutes.

Having replaced David Strettle with Danny Care midway through the half, Quins wasted the chance to go 6-0 up soon after when Andy Gomarsall's errant penalty attempt sailed wide.

In the 34th minute Harlequins' Mike Ross was sin-binned for persistent infringement following a series of broken scrums.

A penalty try was eventually awarded to Sale in the 36th minute and Luveniyali failed to reduce the arrears on the stroke of half-time when he sent a penalty wide.

The momentum remained with Sale after the break and within two minutes of the restart they claimed their second try when Chabal crossed and Hodgson converted.

Although Sale continued to press forward, Gomarsall's penalty on the hour mark kept the visitors in contention.

But Keil collected possession and showed good pace to burst clear and score and Hodgson again added the extras.

Sale controlled matters after that and Wigglesworth touched down in the closing stages to seal the win.

Sale director of rugby Kingsley Jones:
"If we win again next week, and results go our way, we could even finish third.

"I thought the way we stuck in there to the end was a real positive. We lost our shape a bit in the first half but I was really pleased with the second half and the confidence we showed.

"We defended well, stuck in there and to get the try at the end was really pleasing."

Quins director of rugby Dean Richards:
"David Strettle tweaked his ankle but we don't think it's is anything serious and it's up to us to regroup now."

Sale: McLeod; Doherty, M Tait, Tuilagi, Ripol; Hodgson, Peel; Sheridan, Bruno, Roberts, Chabal, Schofield, White, Briggs, Fernandez Lobbe.
Replacements: Keil for Tuilagi (60), Wigglesworth for Peel (55), Faure for Sheridan (55), D Tait for Bruno (55), Turner for Roberts (71), C. Jones for Schofield (45)

Not Used: Kuadey

Sin-bin: Ripol (12)

Harlequins: T Williams; Strettle, Tiesi, Barry, Stegmann; Luveniyali, Gomarsall; Jones, Botha, Ross, Percival, Robson, Robshaw, Skinner, Easter.
Replacements: Care for Strettle (17), Turner-Hall for Luveniyali (59), Fuga for Botha (45), Lambert for Ross (55), Guest for Robson (55), J. Evans for Robshaw (55), McMillan for Skinner (72).

Sin-bin: Ross (35)

Att: 9,579

Ref: Wayne Barnes (RFU)

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