SALE Sharks stamped their authority on the European Shield on Saturday, with their fourth straight win in the competition.

Seven tries without reply saw the Heywood Roaders beat Connacht 44-6 and romp clear at the top of group four.

Charlie Hodgson scored fourteen points, including a try, as the Sharks showed how they learned the lessons of the previous week's fixture in Ireland.

In that narrow win, they were forced into errors by a capable Connacht side, and almost paid the price in the last minute of the game.

No such nail-biting finish at Heywood Road this time however, as the home side raced to a 15-0 lead inside the first quarter and never really looked back.

Apollo Perelini notched up the fist try after less than two minutes, taking down Charlie Hodgson's perfect pass, with the young fly-half adding the conversion.

He was not so successful ten minutes later, failing to convert Black's try, but he made amends with a 23rd minute penalty.

Connacht shortened the deficit to 12 points with an Eric Elwood penalty before former Altrincham Kersal winger Mark Cueto flew over for his side's third try. Conversion included, the Sharks were comprehensively the better side.

Elwood added a second penalty on 33 minutes but missed two more before the break, as the visiting side lost their way.

Cueto and Hodgson combined well for the latter to score an unconverted try early in the second half.

Hodgson's conversion, as well as a later penalty, was missed with style - profligacy which surely would have been punished, had Connacht secured themselves a better grip of the game.

Previously in little doubt, the tie was put beyond Connacht's reach by their former centre Mel Deane, whose converted try lef the scores at 34-6 with the clock rapidly ticking down.

A driving maul at the death saw Sale run in six of the best thanks to replacement Scott Lines.

However, there was still time for the Sharks the reach seventh heaven, when Deane, clearly enjoying a pop at familiar faces, convert a break by replacement scrum-half Alan Dickens into a touchdown.

After the match, Sale coach Jim Mallinder said, " I was very pleased with the way we played to day.

"After last week's tie, we knew that Connacht were a good side who played the whole 80 minutes for each other.

"This win means a lot to us in terms of keeping our momentum going over the course of a season and also a possible route to silverware, something that is our aim here at Sale.

Sharks: Going; Cueto (rep Hanley 56 mins), Shaw, Deane, Elliott; Hodgson (rep Davidson 65 mins), Bramhall (rep Dickens 74 mins); Black, Titterrell (rep Jackman 64 mins), Turner (rep Yates 64 mins), Fullarton, Giacheri (rep Anglesea 69 mins), Perelini (rep Lines 60 mins), Sanderson capt, Wilks.