Even the presence of Lawrence Dallaglio could not save Wasps from defeat at
the hands of Sale.
Dallaglio came on in the second half after a long-term knee injury - which
will have pleased England boss Clive Woodward.
But Woodward will not have been happy to see Jason Robinson hobble off the
field and Charlie Hodgson struggle with a bad ankle.
Fly-half Hodgson took just five minutes to record his 500th point for Sale in
just 18 months with a penalty and extended the lead with another effort five
minutes later.
His opposite number Alex King levelled the scores with two kicks of his own
before persistent pressure from the home side paid off with a try for winger
Mark Cueto which Hodgson converted.
Sale looked to have things under control but Wasps rallied and pulled level
once again when centre Fraser Waters ran clear and King converted.
King then posted two more penalties in the last two minutes of the half to put
Wasps ahead.
After the break Sale turned up the heat and pushed Wasps all over the park
before prop Stuart Turner was driven over for Hodgson to convert and give Sale a
one-point lead.
Wasps battled on and reclaimed the lead with a drop goal from King shortly
after Sale had been reduced to 14 men when Iain Fullerton was sin-binned.
The visitors' Robinson was forced off through injury and at the same time
another British Lion took to the field in the form of Dallaglio.
Then it was Wasps turn to go a man down when hooker Trevor Leota was shown the
yellow card.
Sale used the extra man to their advantage when winger Anthony Elliott scored
out wide which Hodgson - despite a bad angle - converted.
Teams:
Sale: Robinson, Cueto, Deane, Harris, Elliott, Hodgson,
Redpath, Yates, Titterrell, Turner, Fullarton, Lines, C. Jones,
Pinkerton, Perelini, Perelini, Wilkes.
Replacements: Going for Robinson (55), Hanley for Harris (70),
C. Marais for Titterrell (64), Wilkes for Perelini (15),
Wilkes for Perelini (64), Perelini for Wilkes (25).
Not Used: Dickens, Giacheri, Black.
Sin Bin: Fullarton (59).
Tries: Cueto, Turner, Elliott.
Cons: Hodgson 3.
Pens: Hodgson 2.
Wasps: Sampson, Offiah, Waters, Denney, Rudd, A. King, Wood,
Mackenzie, Leota, S. Green, Shaw, Jones, Lock, Volley, Worsley.
Replacements: Barratt for Offiah (78), Abbott for Rudd (64),
Beardshaw for Jones (56), Dallaglio for Lock (55).
Not Used: Page, Leek, Fuller.
Sin Bin: Leota (76).
Tries: Waters.
Cons: A. King.
Pens: A. King 4.
Drop Goals: A. King.
Att: 5,118
Ref: Dave Pearson (RFU).
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