Sale Sharks speedster Steve Hanley scored two touchline tries as European
champions Northampton sank to their third away defeat of the season.
The Saints were in charge for the first 20 minutes, with Paul Grayson bagging
13 points, but a home rally 10 minutes before the break swung the Premiership
encounter in Sale's favour.
Hanley first pushed Sale into the lead on the stroke of half-time after a long
pass from stand-off Nicky Little.
The Sharks had laid siege to Saints' line, and their reward - a try from Guy
Manson-Bishop after a tap penalty - set Sale up for Hanley's charge.
Grayson had engineered Northampton's early dominance with a penalty, try and
conversion inside the first 18 minutes.
He added another three-pointer five minutes later, but Little made up for an
earlier miss to put Sale on the board from long range.
Northampton went into their shell after the restart. Grayson added his fourth
goal, but it was the Sharks who were growing in confidence.
Captain Alex Sanderson ducked over for their third try before another
cross-field move let Hanley stretch his legs, beating three men to the line.
Little tagged on both conversions.
Replacement referee Chris White awarded the visitors a penalty try as Sale
brought down a maul on their own line.
Grayson's kick was answered in kind by a Little penalty two minutes later.
A late Northampton surge ended with Sale being awarded a penalty of their
own.
Teams:
Sale:
Tries: Manson-Bishop, Hanley 2, Sanderson.
Cons: Little 4.
Pens: Little 2.
Sale: Mallinder, Davidson, Deane, Harris, Hanley, Little,
Redpath, Black, Clark, Thiel, Manson-Bishop, Whittle, Anglesea,
Morris, Sanderson.
Replacements: Shaw for Davidson (54),
Winstanley for Black (58), Jackman for Clark (48),
Lines for Whittle (72), Appleyard for Morris (28).
Not Used: Hatley, Baxendell.
Northampton:
Tries: Grayson, Penalty.
Cons: Grayson 2.
Pens: Grayson 3.
Northampton: Moir, Cohen, Bateman, Allen, Sleightholme,
Grayson, Malone, Todd, Brotherstone, Volland, Newman, Brouzet,
Seely, Pountney, Lam.
Replacements: Martin for Allen (40), Bramhall for Malone (63),
Phillips for Newman (52).
Not Used: Thompson, Richmond, Hunter, Tucker.
Att: 1,844
Ref: Chris White (RFU).
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