Harlequins (18) 21
Tries: Gray, Brown Con: Clegg Pens: Clegg 3
Sale (3) 9
Pens: Hodgson 3

Sale's Hendry Thomas is tackled by Harlequins' Will Skinner at The Stoop

Harlequins made it 10 wins from their last 11 games with a comfortable win over Sale.

A Rory Clegg penalty put the hosts in front before Joe Gray evaded some indifferent tackling to touch down and extend the lead, with Clegg converting.

Soon after, Mike Brown collected his own kick for Quins' second try to extend their lead to 15 points.

From then on, Clegg and Charlie Hodgson exchanged penalties as the home side eased to victory.

The win sees Harlequins maintain their pursuit of a Premiership play-off place, while Sale, who have now only one of their last eight league games, will still feel threatened by relegation.

An uninspiring game played on a heavy pitch was given its first points when Clegg, in at fly-half for the injured Nick Evans, kicked a simple penalty.

As the hosts dominated, Sale scrum-half Will Cliff foiled a kick-and-chase by Brown before Gray went through to score and, minutes later, another Brown chase was rewarded with a try.

Hodgson and Clegg slotted a penalty each before the break, and, as the game deteriorated in the second half, two kicks from Hodgson and one from Clegg were the only further additions to the score.

Harlequins director of rugby Conor O'Shea:
"I'm very pleased. The conditions were horrific. We started fantastically. It was a reaction to last week's performance at Exeter [a 20-6 defeat].

"In the second half we lacked accuracy but our defence was outstanding. It's unbelievable how hard they work for one another.

"Clegg was outstanding for us. He was up against a top-class opponent in Charlie Hodgson and lacked nothing in comparison."

Sale Sharks coach Pete Anglesea:
"We needed to start well but, like last week, we didn't [a 19-7 home defeat by Bath]. We made the same mistakes. Our execution let us down.

"We let points in early doors and it's difficult to chase a game in these conditions as we forced too many passes.

"Fortunately, we are not in the mire at present, but we are looking over our shoulders. We need a bit of confidence and a bounce of a ball to go our way."

Harlequins: Brown; Camacho, Lowe, Turner-Hall, Monye; Clegg, Care; Marler, Gray, Johnston, Kohn, Browne, Fa'asavalu, Skinner, Robshaw.

Replacements: Williams for Camacho (71), Jones for Marler (61), Brooker for Gray (61), Lambert for Johnston (71), Vallejos Cinalli for Browne (65). Not Used: York, Moore, Urdapilleta.

Sin Bin: Lowe (79).

Sale: Miller, Brady, Bell, Tonetti, Cohen, Hodgson, Cliff, Sheridan, M. Jones, Thomas, C. Jones, Lewaravu, Gaskell, Fearns, Koyamaibole.

Replacements: Tuilagi for Tonetti (58), Leck for Cliff (71), Imiolek for Sheridan (71), B. Roberts for M. Jones (66), Forster for Thomas (64), McMillan for Fearns (71), Cox for Koyamaibole (41). Not Used: Addison.

Sin Bin: Cohen (79).

Attendance: 11,852

Referee: Greg Garner (RFU).

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