Geraghty kicked two penalties in Northampton's victory over Sale
Northampton claimed their fourth win of the Premiership season with a victory over struggling Sale.
Shane Geraghty and Charlie Hodgson traded penalties before Sale's Andy Tuilagi was sin-binned after tangling with Chris Ashton.
Northampton capitalised on their advantage and in a three-minute spell Ben Foden and Bruce Reihana went over.
Sale gave themselves hope through James Gaskell's try but had to settle for a losing bonus point, sealed by Hodgson.
Sale director of rugby Kingsley Jones on Tuilagi's sin-binning:
"I don't know what happened, it looks like a guy pushed him when he was on the floor.
"To be honest I wasn't very happy with him at half-time and I let him know that. He apologised to me and said wanted to go back on the field for the second half and put it right.
"I gave him that opportunity and I think in the second half he did well and kept his discipline.
"But there is a fine line between being physical and stepping over the mark. I can understand him being angry but we all know what can happen in a 10-minute period with 14 men at this level."
Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder:
"The first thing to say was that we are pleased to win. The performance was a little bit mixed, we couldn't quite go to that final phase of play to break them down," Mallinder said.
"That period at the end of the first half was a crucial period when they lost a player. In the second half one weak scrum cost us and they made a fight of it."
Northampton: Foden, Ashton, Mayor, Downey, Reihana, Geraghty, Dickson, Dreyer, Hartley, Tonga'uiha, Fernandez Lobbe, Lawes, Dowson, Best, Wilson. Replacements: Ansbro for Mayor (54), Myler for Geraghty (59), Dickens for Dickson (72), Day for Fernandez Lobbe (59), Easter for Best (52).
Not Used: Sharman, Waller, Vickers.
Sin Bin: Easter (68).
Sale: MacLeod, Cueto, M. Tait, Tuilagi, Cohen, Hodgson, Wigglesworth, Kerr, M. Jones, E. Roberts, Schofield, Cox, Gaskell, Seymour, Koyamailbole. Replacements: Bell for M. Tait (76), Peel for Wigglesworth (72), Forster for Kerr (57), O'Donnell for Schofield (76), Cockbain for Gaskell (52), D. Tait for Koyamailbole (54).
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