Sale hit a purple patch early in the second half to put bottom club Rotherham to the sword and give Jim Mallinder the perfect start to his reign as head coach.

The Manchester club resurrected their hopes of a play-off place by claiming all five points to move to within two of eighth-placed London Irish.

It took a devastating scoring burst of three tries in four minutes to put the visitors in sight of their first Premiership win since December, although they always looked the better team throughout a dour first half.

They were, however, grateful for an off day by Rotherham marksman Mike Umaga, who fluffed three penalty attempts in four minutes before finally hitting the mark with one from in front of the posts.

Sale goalkicker Charlie Hodgson had to contend with a stiff breeze in the first half but he demonstrated far greater accuracy by landing two penalties and hitting the woodwork with his other effort to give his side a 6-3 interval lead.

The home side, already condemned to bottom spot and almost certain relegation after winning just two of their 19 matches, dominated long spells of the first half but could not break down some stiff Sale defence.

The Heywood Road outfit, still dogged by uncertainty in the line-out, rarely threatened the Rotherham line but had the best attacker on view in full-back Jason Robinson, who produced a series of mesmeric raids from deep without receiving support.

Robinson's electrifying pace lit up a match played at pedestrian pace, although it proved too much for referee Brian Campsall, who was forced to swap roles with touch judge David Pearson midway through the first half after picking up a leg injury.

Sale right winger Anthony Elliott grabbed his first try for the club in only his second appearance when he popped up on the left flank within a minute of the re-start to get on the end of a fine move involving Apollo Perelini, Jos Baxendell and Bernard Jackman.

Jackman was also influential two minutes later when he burst past the first line of defence and Baxendell scythed through to touch down.

And Rotherham were still reeling when fly-half Hodgson broke down the middle and Robinson finished off decisively with a weaving run to the corner.

When lock Scott Lines powered his way over from close range to secure the bonus point, Sale were coasting at 32-3 and Elliott piled on the agony for the home side when he raced over for his second try.

Hodgson kicked his sixth goal from eight attempts to take Sale out to 39-3 but Rotherham at least restored some pride with a late rally which brought tries to substitute Ben Wade and winger Philip Greaves.

Teams:

Rotherham: Umaga, Greaves, Hassan, Shepherd, Wood, Scully, Forster, Thorp, Johnson, Latham, Greeff, Parr, Fea'unati, Earnshaw, Schmid.

Not Used: Gravel, Bunting, Cook, Wade, Harrison, Dixon, Dawson.

Tries: Wade, Greaves.

Pens: Umaga.

Sale: Robinson, Elliott, Baxendell, Harris, Davidson, Hodgson, Redpath, Black, Jackman, Thiel, Lines, Anglesea, Appleyard, Morris, Perelini.

Not Used: Knight, Little, Deane, Wilks, Baldwin, Bell, Titterrell.

Tries: Elliott 2, Baxendell, Robinson, Lines.

Cons: Hodgson 4.

Pens: Hodgson 2.

Att: 1,650

Ref: Brian Campsall (RFU).

Zurich man of the match: Jason Robinson (Sale).