Northampton bounced back from a double try blow in the opening 10 minutes to beat dangerous Sale and keep the pressure on Leicester at the top of the Premiership.

The Northerners caught Saints cold and hit them with a sixth-minute try from centre Jos Baxendale after only six minutes in a move launched by new England winger Jason Robinson, who started at full-back.

Two minutes later Robinson scored a brilliant try of his own from 30 metres out with Sale fly-half Charlie Hodgson converting both, joint-second Saints found themselves 14 points adrift.

Northampton included Pat Lam, who leaves at the end of the season and had been named initially on substitutes' bench only to reclaim his back row position when Grant Seeley pulled a hamstring in training on Friday.

Saints clawed their way back into the game with four penalties before the interval from Paul Grayson, playing alongside his former England half-back partner Matt Dawson for the first time since last October.

The Northampton pack came out with all guns firing in the second half and lock Tim Rodber was driven over for a try within four minutes of the restart.

Ahead for the first time, Saints stretched their lead to 10 points with a 52nd-minute try from Scotland flanker Budge Pountney.

Sale, always a threat with the ball in their hands, clawed back nine points from the boot of Hodgson before England wing Ben Cohen settled it with a 75th-minute try.

Teams:

Northampton: Beal, Shaw, Bateman, Leslie, Cohen, Grayson, Dawson, Pagel, Thompson, Stewart, Newman, Rodber, Blowers, Pountney, Lam.

Replacements: Richmond for Thompson (10), Hunter for Rodber (78), Rennick for Pountney (79).

Not Used: Todd, Malone, Brooks, Martin.

Tries: Rodber, Pountney, Cohen.

Cons: Grayson.

Pens: Grayson 5.

Sale: Robinson, Moore, Baxendell, Harris, Hanley, Hodgson, Redpath, Bell, Titterrell, Thiel, Lines, Anglesea, Appleyard, Morris, Perelini.

Replacements: Jackman for Titterrell (52), Manson-Bishop for Morris (52).

Not Used: Hatley, Little, Shaw, Wilks, Black.

Tries: Baxendell, Robinson.

Cons: Hodgson 2.

Pens: Hodgson 4.

Sin Bin: Anglesea (47).

Att: 7,849

Ref: Tony Spreadbury (RFU).