A devastating second-half performance saw Sale give themselves a fighting chance of qualifying for the semi-finals of the European Challenge Cup with a first leg win over Agen at Edgeley Park.

Trailing 15-6 at half-time the Sharks, unbeaten in Europe this season, showed all the battling qualities that have taken them to third place in the Zurich Premiership as the side from the south-west of France succumbed to a relentless home onslaught.

Charlie Hodgson was once again the tormentor-in-chief, successfully registering seven out of nine kicks and setting up tries for Magnus Lund and Mark Cueto.

Steve Hanley scored another try late on, but with just a 16-point lead to take across the Channel for the second leg the quarter-final is nicely poised for a dramatic conclusion.

Sharks players and staff have been extolling the virtues of this competition throughout the week as it offers the winners a direct passport to the Heineken Cup and that was shown in their team selection, with head coach Philippe Saint-Andre opting for his strongest XV possible.

The hosts got off to the perfect start with Hodgson slotting over two penalties in a 10-minute spell which saw the French side pinned back.

A stream of penalties forced Italian referee Carlo Damasco to send stand-off Jerome Miquel to the sin-bin as Sale took the whip-hand early on.

But against the run of play 14-man Agen surprisingly scored the first try in the 17th minute.

Prop Ariel Castellina barged over with the Sharks pack offering futile resistance from a catch and drive.

The conversion was missed but the Sale faithful were further dismayed towards the end of the half when the official brandished a yellow card to Sebastian Chaval for what seemed like a perfectly fair crunching tackle on Miquel.

The incident sparked something of a free-for-all between both sets of forwards but when play resumed the fly-half dusted himself down to kick an impressive penalty to give his side an 8-6 lead.

Feeling they had been dealt an injustice Sale tried to rally but two minutes before the interval they fell further behind with a try which had its origins from Chris Rhys Jones' knock-on on halfway.

After a series of Agen phases centre Luc Lafforgue cleverly kicked ahead and out-paced Richard Wigglesworth to ground the ball for the try and Miquel added the extras.

Sale began the second period as they had the first and Hodgson reduced the arrears with his third penalty, and in the 48th minute they found themselves back in front.

Chaval cleared a clutch of defenders out of the way with another rampaging charge and from the breakdown Hodgson spun the ball out to flanker Lund who dived over for his third try of the season.

Sharks were on a roll and it was Hodgson who was again the provider for the home sides' next try.

Receiving the ball five yards out he threw a perfectly-timed pass to Cueto who brushed aside his opposite wing to score and again Hodgson converted.

The sides exchanged penalties through Miquel and Hodgson before the latter added his fifth to increase the hosts' lead.

Hooker Jean-Baptiste Rue became the third player to see yellow and Sale managed to add a third try late on through winger Steve Hanley.

But Saint-Andre must be wondering whether a 16-point advantage is enough to take to France for the return leg.