Kenny Logan grabbed a 29-point haul as ruthless Wasps hit top form to clinch
the Premiership runners-up spot and leave Sale's play-off hopes hanging by a
thread.
Lawrence Dallaglio's men can now look forward to a home game against
Gloucester in the first round of the Zurich Championship and, if successful, a
home tie in the semi-finals.
Sale were led onto the field by 36-year-old lock Dave Baldwin to mark his
final appearance at Heywood Road and a slipshod performance by his team-mates,
culminating in their heaviest defeat of the season, may have ensured it was his
last in blue and white.
The Manchester club will only qualify for a trip to Leicester if London Irish
and Bristol both lose their final league games on Monday.
Sale were on the back foot for most of the match and Jason Robinson, starved
of quality possession, was denied a last chance to impress the Lions selectors,
although he did manage a late consolation try.
Sale were trailing 59-12 until Robinson supported a break by Bryan Redpath to
claim a 77th-minute touchdown and further late tries from Steve Hanley and Steve
Davidson enabled them to save face in front of a season's biggest crowd of
3,877.
But for the most part the toothless Sharks were forced to rely on the boot of
fly-half Charlie Hodgson, who succeeded with four of his five penalty attempts,
all of them in the first half.
Dominance in the set-piece play gave Wasps half-backs Alex King and Martin
Wood time and space to unleash their gifted backs and Sale had no answer to the
rapier-like running of Fraser Waters, Mark Denney and Paul Sampson.
Sale led 6-3 until Waters finished off a superb break by Denney on 12 minutes
to spark a scoring spree of 27 points in a 22-minute spell midway through the
first half.
Wood then took advantage of more missed tackles to put Logan over, flanker
Paul Volley finished off a sweeping handling move and Dallaglio forced his way
six minutes before the break for a fourth try that secured the bonus point.
There was no let-up in the second half, with Denney going over within 56
seconds of the restart and Logan, Sampson and substitute hooker Trevor Leota
also adding tries.
The biggest cheer of the afternoon was reserved for Robinson's cameo show and,
as Wasps took the foot off the pedal, Hanley took the chance to impress the
watching Brian Ashton by winning a kick-and-chase to touch down.
Fellow winger Davidson also claimed a consolation score, with Nikki Little
adding a conversion.
Zurich man of the match: Alex King (Wasps).
Teams:
Sale: Robinson, Hanley, Baxendell, Deane, Davidson, Hodgson,
Redpath, Black, Titterrell, Thiel, Baldwin, Lines, Anglesea,
A. Sanderson, Perelini.
Replacements: Little for Hodgson (57), Knight for Redpath (77),
Bell for Black (57), Jackman for Titterrell (52),
Appleyard for Anglesea (36), Wilkes for Perelini (57).
Not Used: Shaw.
Tries: Robinson, Hanley, Davidson.
Cons: Little.
Pens: Hodgson 4.
Wasps: Sampson, Lewsey, Waters, Denney, Logan,
King, Wood,
Molloy, Greening, Green, Birkett, Shaw, Worsley, Volley,
Dallaglio.
Replacements: Leek for King (66), Bijon for Wood (69),
Beardshaw for Greening (61), Le Chevalier for Green (66),
Leota for Dallaglio (62).
Not Used: Roiser, Reed.
Tries: Waters, Logan 2, Volley, Dallaglio, Denney,
Sampson, Leota.
Cons: Logan 5.
Pens: Logan 3.
Att: 3,877
Ref: R Goodliffe (Sheffield (RFU)).
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