Wasps 22-16 Sale

Wasps (10) 22
Tries: Jacobs Cons: Cipriani Pens: Cipriani 5

Sale (6) 16
Tries: Kerr Cons: Hodgson Pens: Hodgson 2 Drop-goals: Hodgson

Jacobs finished off a wonderful Wasps move

Danny Cipriani produced a flawless kicking display to sink Sale and move Wasps to within touching distance of the Guinness Premiership top four.

Tom Varndell and Warren Fury set up Ben Jacobs for a superb opening try as the hosts opened a 10-6 half-time lead.

Substitute prop Gavin Kerr outpaced Serge Betsen as Sale fought back in the second half to trail 16-13.

But fly-half Cipriani, who kicked five penalties, punished Sale's indiscipline as Wasps secured the victory.

Charlie Hodgson's drop-goal with two minutes left at least earned Sale a losing bonus point.

Wasps director of rugby Tony Hanks:

"We thoroughly deserved to win the game, there is no question about that. I thought we were all over them and it was built on a fantastic scrummaging display.

"The guys have been under the pump and we said after Leicester that we had four weeks to go and work on a few things.

"I think everybody in the country knew the scrum was one of them and I thought the guys really responded today."

Sale director of rugby Kingsley Jones:

"To win away in the Premiership is tough and you don't need wrong decisions at that point in the game.

"The difference in the points was down to the officials.

"I thought we gifted Wasps points unnecessarily and we dropped a lot of ball without much pressure."

Wasps: Van Gisbergen; Sackey, Jacobs, Kefu, Varndell; Cipriani, Fury; Taulafo, Webber, Broster, Veale, Skivington, Worsley, Betsen (capt), Ward-Smith.

Replacements: Walder for van Gisbergen (68), Baker for Broster (73), Matthews for Betsen (56).

Not Used: Ward, Bocca, Ellis, Honeyben, Lemi.

Sale: Cohen; James, Bishop, Thomas, Doherty; Hodgson, Wigglesworth; Roberts, Schwalger, Halsall, Schofield (capt), Gaskell, Fearns, Seymour, Koyamaibole.

Replacements: Peel for Wigglesworth (74), Briggs for Schwalger (72), Kerr for Halsall (43), Cox for Gaskell (37), Ormsby for Fearns (56).

Not Used: O'Donnell, Ripol, Styles.

Att: 7,173

Ref: R Debney (RFU).