Gloucester's hopes of a top-three finish in the Zurich Premiership took a massive blow when they were ripped apart by a rejuvenated Sale side at Edgeley Park.

Sharks moved up into fifth place after their bonus point victory - but even on such a momentous night for the Sharks the loudest cheer of the night was for a brief appearance at the end from England stand-off Charlie Hodgson, whose season has been plagued with injury.

The two sides last met in February at Kingsholm when Gloucester made easy work of Sale to win 38-12.

Both sides were severely depleted by injuries and international call-ups then and while the team selection nightmare for the return leg in Stockport was the same the result was entirely different.

Gloucester found themselves without England stars Phil Vickery, Trevor Woodman, Andrew Gomarsall and James Simpson-Daniel and also flying winger Marcel Garvey, who was on duty with the under-21s and also Simon Amor with England Sevens.

You could hardly blame director of rugby Nigel Melville for not releasing Henry Paul to the Sevens side as well.

Sale, this year's Powergen Cup finalists, were without the injured Chris Jones and Matt Cairns, international Jason Robinson and Jason White and also the influential Graeme Bond, out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.

Sale took the lead after 12 minutes when Jos Baxendell gathered a loose ball and slipped it between his legs to winger Steve Hanley who sprinted clear from his own half to score the first of his three tries under the posts for stand-off Mike Hercus to convert.

Sale's second try was almost a carbon copy except on the other wing where Mark Cueto took a blindside pass from Nick Walsh and raced a similar distance to give Hercus another easy kick at goal.

Paul pulled three points back with a penalty when Sale were caught off side but after some enterprising play and impressive defence from both sides, Hercus restored his side's 14-point lead when Gloucester were penalised in front of the posts.

Sale's try-scoring wingers then performed a dazzling double act to end the half on a high as Cueto darted off his wing to scythe his way through the Gloucester defence before off-loading to Hanley, who strolled over - Hercus once more added the extras.

Paul reduced the gap with a penalty one minute into the second half but the rampant Sharks soon went further ahead when replacement prop Stuart Turner slipped a reverse ball to Hercus who went clear under the posts and converted his own try.

In the space of two minutes Sale lost their heads, and also Turner and Cueto to the sin-bin, but even with the two-man advantage Gloucester could not score against solid Sale defending.

In the dying minutes Gloucester finally got their act together and reduced the gap with tries from Delarey Du Preez and second row Alex Brown - which Paul converted.

But there was still time for Hanley to sneak over for his hat-trick at the death and Hodgson, on for the last five minutes, added the conversion.

Teams:

Sale: Going, Cueto, Mayor, Baxendell, Hanley, Hercus, Walshe, Yates, Titterell, Stewart, Fullarton, Schofield, Anglesea, Perrett, Sanderson.

Replacements: Hodgson for Hercus (79), Benton for Walshe (88), Sheridan for Yates (52), Roddam. for Titterell (87), Turner for Stewart (52), Davies for Sanderson (27).

Not Used: Briers.

Sin Bin: Cueto (61), Turner (63).

Sent Off: Turner (79).

Tries: Hanley 3, Cueto, Hercus.

Cons: Hercus 4, Hodgson.

Pens: Hercus.

Gloucester: Goodridge, Van der bergh, Todd, Paul, Fanolua, McRae, Page, Roncero, Fortey, Deacon, Eustace, Brown, Boer, Paramore, Buxton.

Replacements: Foster for Goodridge (52), du Preez for Fortey (63), Cornwell for Eustace (68), Hazell for Buxton (50).

Not Used: Johnstone, Frape, Frost.

Tries: du Preez, Brown.

Cons: Paul 2.

Pens: Paul 2.

Att: 6,487

Ref: Chris White (RFU).