Sale 34

Northampton 14

IF THE mark of a great team is the ability to play badly and win, then Sale must be a world-class side.

They were truly hopeless in the first half against a mediocre Northampton team, but, in a Jekyll and Hyde performance, they blew the opposition away in the second period.

The woeful start may have been due to the absence of star player Jason Robinson or a lack of confidence after two successive league defeats. Whatever it was, the players got it out of their systems after half-time.

They destroyed the Saints with three quality tries after the break, scoring 21 points without reply.

Charlie Hodgson's try following a dropped catch by full-back Mark Tucker after 30 minutes may have been crucial, and he converted it superbly from the touchline to bring Sale back within one point of the visitors.

Until then, the Saints had looked set to run away with the game. Sale were undisciplined in defence and their passing was sloppy, and they were lucky to only concede one try.

Northampton had all the early pressure, and after one sustained attack in the 21st minute they flung the ball out to Cohen on the right. The England winger was allowed to dive over the line in the corner.

Two penalties either side of this unconverted try gave the Saints an 11-0 lead, and Sale slowly woke up. A penalty and Hodgson's try got them back into the game when they could have been dead and buried, and the sides traded penalties to make the half-time score 13-14.

With Jim Mallinder's half-time team talk no doubt still ringing in their ears, Sale moved up a couple of gears immediately. Steve Davidson came close when he charged for the line, but he was blocked by a double tackle and Saints managed to clear their lines.

It was a sign of things to come, but Northampton failed to heed the warning. Hodgson, who grew in stature as the game progressed, collected his own kick and sent Pinkerton and Anglesea haring through. Anglesea's momentum took him over the line for what could be his last contribution for 12 months.

Northampton responded by losing almost all of their own line-outs and knocking on at important times. Sale rediscovered their killer instinct and Steve Hanley put the game out of reach with a marvellous try in the 62nd minute.

The winger looked as though he would struggle to reach the corner when he picked the ball up midway inside Northampton's half. After surging past three men, however, he nonchalantly put the ball down behind the posts.

Not to be outdone, fellow winger Mark Cueto boosted his growing reputation with a try of his own late in the game. His run to the line was far from easy, but he never considered passing. His pace and power were too much for the hapless Saints.

The two previous defeats may have suggested that Sale's lofty league position would not last, but this performance suggests that there is plenty of life in them yet. If they decide to play for the full 80 minutes more often, they could well be a force to be reckoned with.

Sale: Yates, Titterell, Turner, Fullarton, Lines, Perelini, Pinkerton, Anglesea, Redpath (capt), Hodgson, Hanley, Davidson, Shaw, Cueto, Going. Replacements: Dickens, Devlin, Elliott, Wilks, Giacheri, Black, Jackman.