Bath (24) 31 Tries: Bell, Hape, Carraro, Williams Cons: Barkley 4 Pens: Barkley Sale (6) 9 Tries: Lewaravu Cons: Williams Pens: Williams 3
Shontayne Hape grabbed his first try of the season for Bath
Bath got back to winning ways after last weekend's defeat by Northampton with a bonus-point win over Sale.
Tries from Duncan Bell, Shontayne Hape and Matt Carraro put the hosts in charge at the break, Olly Barkley adding three conversions and a penalty.
Paul Williams kicked three penalties for Sale either side of the break before Ben Williams went over for Bath, Barkley adding the extras.
Wame Lewaravu scored a late consolation try for Sale, converted by Williams.
Having won their opening two games, Bath were comprehensively beaten 31-10 at Northampton last weekend but a strong first-half showing against Sale was enough for Sir Ian McGeechan's side to secure their third win of the season with Williams' late try securing their bonus point.
Bell put the hosts ahead with 12 minutes on the clock, crashing over the line from short range before Barkley converted and added a penalty soon after to give his side a 10-0 lead.
Sale lost fly-half Nick Macleod to injury before Williams kicked the resulting penalty and then added a second from slightly longer range.
Hape then put the hosts back in control as he cut back on Barkley's pop pass before rounding off a 30-metre run by crossing the line with his centre partner then adding the extras.
Bath added a third try to secure a strong half-time lead after Carraro intercepted Mark Cueto's pass and the Australian finished off with an easy run to the line.
The visitors came out after the break with fresh impetus with Williams claiming a third penalty as McGeechan's side struggled to put any more points on the board.
But late on Williams ensured his side claimed a bonus point as he was put in at the corner by a Bath a scrum following a Sale forward pass.
Barkley maintained his 100% record with the boot before Lewaravu grabbed Sale's consolation try at the death.
Bath head coach Steve Meehan: "We are not playing anywhere near as well as we can. But they'll grow in confidence from this result and we'll be even more positive on Friday night against Gloucester."
(On left wing Tom Biggs): "That's certainly the best display we've seen from him in a Bath jersey.
"We've been wanting him to trust himself and back his speed. That's why we got him down here. Today he showed the home supporters the kind of player he is."
Sale head coach Mike Brewer: "We got what we deserved. If individuals go out on to the field and they're not committed and haven't got the attitude to tackle then at this level the opposition will run through you.
"The first two tries that Bath scored were down to two incredibly poor missed tackles. I certainly read them the riot act at half-time and they turned it around but, in all honesty, we played like we trained during the week.
"There was not enough intensity, not enough accuracy. I was just incredibly disappointed. There's no substitute for attitude...Defence is 90% attitude."
Replacements: Miller for Tonetti (29), M. James for MacLeod (22), Imiolek for Sheridan (71), Briggs for Croall (41), Forster for Wihongi (57), Gaskell for Seymour (46), Ormsby for Koyamaibole (41).
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