Three penalties from an in-form Charlie Hodgson and a try from Steve Hanley saw Gloucester go in 16-0 down at the break.

The first period was a battle of the forwards, with Gloucester's inexperienced back line seeing very little of the ball.

Gloucester hit back at the start of the second half with a Brad Davies penalty, and a series of phases, but the initiative was lost when Sale bagged their second try through Cueto.

John Carter's touchdown took the Sharks into a 30-3 lead before Gloucester came back into it through a penalty try.

Again, Sale hit back straight away with a breakaway try from Steve Hanley, before Peter Buxton scored in the final minutes.

Match Summary:

2 mins:
Hodgson opened the scoring for Sale with a penalty.

(3-0 to Sale)

4 mins:
Both sides' handling let them down early on.

5 mins:
Boer and Balding exchanged passes on halfway, and Eustace took the ball into contact, before Sale were penalised and Brad Davies stepped up for the three points, but his kick went just wide.

8 mins:
Kiole did well under the high ball to call the mark from a Redpath box kick, before Gomarsall cleared from the 22.

9 mins:
Gary Powell took the initiative and drove directly into the Sale defensive line, and referee Lander penalised Sale. Davies went to touch from just inside the home side's half, but the ball was lost from the set-piece as Jake Boer was driven backwards.

15 mins:
Sale added to their score after quarter of an hour. From the scrum on the Gloucester 22, the half-backs found Baxendell with a flat pass and Hanley took the angle and received the ball at full pace, running diagonally through the Gloucester defence. Hodgson converted.

(10-0 to Sale)

16 mins:
Chabal knocked on from the restart and Gloucester couldn't make anything from the advantage, but referee Lander played on.


17 mins:
Again, Gloucester were penalised at a line-out, this time it was Eustace for pulling a man down. Hodgson went to touch inside the Gloucester 22. The Sharks forwards drove the Gloucester pack back, but were penalised as they went over.

20 mins:
The Gloucester forwards finally got into gear and got a rolling maul together that took the Sale pack back 30 metres, before Lander harshly judged Balding to have knocked on as the ball came out.

24 mins:
Sale went to touch from another penalty inside the Gloucester half. Again, Sale couldn't make the most of their possession as they knocked on.

28 mins:
Sale continued with the possession inside the Gloucester half, and despite trying everything Dave Ellis' defence held out for five minutes.

Lander penalised Gloucester again as the pressure mounted and Hodgson slotted the three points.

(13-0 to Sale)

32 mins:
Balding's pick and drive saw them go forward, but Foster was dumped into touch as he received the ball on the touchline. As Sale hammered a kick high into the air, the young Gloucester right winger struggled to take it before Gomarsall cleared.

33 mins:
Barry Stewart came on for Stu Turner.

34 mins:
Sale continued to dominate the first half, and their kicker was pushed out of the way as it was chipped ahead. Lander saw it and gave Hodgson another three-point attempt.

(16-0 to Sale)

39 mins:
Gloucester finally saw some possession, as Simpson-Daniel took the ball for the possibly the first time in the half, before Sale were penalised, but Davies' kick from just inside the Sharks half was short.

40 mins:
Brad Davies side-stepped the rushing Sale defence to break clear into the visitor's 22. He sent a grubber kick ahead for Foster to chase, but Hanley covered it. From the line-out Sale were penalised five metres out in the corner and Gloucester went to touch. The Sharks were penalised again from the set-piece. Jake Boer took possession from the line-out and drove for the line, but the ball popped out and Robinson cleared.

Half time: Sale 16 Gloucester 0

Second half

Gloucester put a few phases together at the start of the second period. Gloucester's possession continued, but it all continued along the halfway line, with no real territory gained. Sale were then penalised and Davies opted for the posts three metres into the Sharks half. His massive kick edged over the bar (45 mins).

(16-3 to Sale)

Sale hit straight back. Goodridge tried to clear from a tight position and his kick was charged down. Chabal took it on to within five metres of the try line before Gloucester managed to palm down a pass. Sale spread it wide straight from the set-piece and Cueto took possession on the far touchline for the try. Hodgson's conversion went through (48 mins).

(23-3 to Sale)

Chris Jones replaced Lobbe in the Sale second row, and Titterrell came on for Bruno.

50 mins:
Gloucester won possession from the restart, but when Sale were penalised, Melville's men tapped and then lost the ball at the next phase.

52 mins:
Olly Morgan came on for his Gloucester debut for Seti Kiole, who took a bad knock to his shoulder.

58 mins:
Sale started to get back into the groove as the second half progressed. Hodgson was looking for the breaks, and former Kingsholm centre Robert Todd threatened.

Sale sealed the win from a Gloucester scrum five metres out. Brad Davies couldn't hold on to a pass behind his own line and John Carter pounced for the try. Hodgson continued his superb kicking with another touchline conversion (60 mins).

(30-3 to Sale)

Azam replaced Mefin Davies and Forrester came on for Boer.

64 mins:
Gloucester put together their best set of phases all game, as the forwards hit the rucks and Gomarsall maintained the tempo. Foster broke the line and shrugged off the tackles, but the Sale defence, inside their own 22, held out.

66 mins:
Gloucester continued to pressure Sale. Foster ran some good lines, and Azam gave it everything. The pressure went up a gear, and they started to look a different side, with Wood and Mauger combining.

68 mins:
Sigley and Buxton came on for Narraway and Wood.

Rhys-Jones replaced Baxendell for Sale.

70 mins:
Gloucester bagged their first try after massive pressure on the Sale line, as Lander awarded a penalty try for the Sharks' constant infringements. Brad Davies converted.

(30-10)

Just as Gloucester were starting to keep Sale back in their own half and mount a final quarter surge, Olly Morgan was turned over in contact on the Sharks 22. Titterrell picked up the loose ball and had Hanley in support. The cruel breakaway try sealed the bonus point for Saint-Andre's side (75 mins).

(35-10 to Sale)

79 mins:
Gloucester gave it everything in the final moments, but Balding, Buxton and Powell just couldn't break the Sale defence from five metres out.

80 mins:
Lund, Martens and Wigglesworth all came on for Sale on 80 minutes.

Gloucester ended the game with their second try. James Forrester broke the base of a scrum on the Sale 22. Gomarsall was on hand to take it on, and Balding drove for the line. The ball was recycled and Peter Buxton went over. Brad Davies converted from the touchline.

(35-17 to Sale)

Attendance: 9,456

Scoring details.

Sale Sharks;
Tries: Cueto, Hodgson, Hanley 2
Conversions: Hodgson 3
Penalties: Hodgson 3

Gloucester;
Tries: Pen, Buxton
Conversions: Davies 2
Penalties: Davies 1