Sale Sharks stepped on the gas in the second half to see off a gutsy Rotherham side.

Five tries broke the Yorkshiremen's spirit after they had trailed by just two points at half-time.

The first 40 minutes was a story of two young goal-kickers as Luke Smith slotted three penalties for Rotherham but Sale stand-off Charlie Hodgson held the upper hand with a try and two goals.

Turning around 11-9 in front after the break Sale then imposed their authority.

Smith kicked Rotherham in front with his fourth penalty but the backlash started minutes later as Hodgson struck his third.

A smart pass from centre Martin Shaw gave prop Dean Bell the chance to slice through Rotherham's static defence for a try.

A clever blindside move from Sharks scrum-half Bryan Redpath set Andy Whittle on the charge. When the tackles eventually came Redpath was on hand to take the return ball and touch down in the corner.

Hodgson missed the conversion but made amends five minutes later with his second try of the afternoon.

Shaw was again the creator as, after Sale had probed Rotherham's left flank, Hodgson found space to wriggle through.

Steve Hanley ran in his obligatory score on 72 minutes following a scrum under Rotherham's posts and Hodgson converted to give Sale a 28-12 lead.

A clutch of replacements finished off a good afternoon for the Sharks as substitute Dan Harris raced away for the final try and Nikki Little, on for Hodgson, banged over the extra points.

Teams:

Sale: Going, Hanley, Shaw, Deane, Robinson, Hodgson, Redpath,Black, Jackman, Bell, Manson-Bishop, Whittle, Anglesea, Appleyard, Perelini.

Replacements: Harris for Deane (73), Little for Hodgson (73), Rusk for Jackman (73), Morris for Appleyard (67).

Not Used: Knight, Lines, Thiel.

Sin Bin: Appleyard (36).

Tries: Hodgson 2, Bell, Redpath, Hanley, Harris.

Cons: Hodgson 2, Little.

Pens: Hodgson 3.

Rotherham: Umaga, Dawson, Massey, Shepherd, Simpson, Smith, Harrison, Thorp, Johnson, Turner, Murphy, Kenworthy, Greeff,Schmid, Fea'unati.

Replacements: Northey for Umaga (75), Bunting for Thorp (41), Wade for Greeff (48), Spence for Fea'unati (67).

Not Used: Latham, Parr, Scully.

Att: 2,124

Ref: Grant Ashton-Jones (RFU).

Pens: Smith 4.

Zurich man of the match: Charlie Hodgson.