SHARKS ended their European Challenge Cup group campaign with a whimper as they lost their perfect record in Montpellier.

Having travelled to France with five wins from their five previous group games - all with a try-scoring bonus point - Sale were frustrated by a gritty, stubborn second half performance from the hosts.

The visitors did have a chance to steal victory though, when Luke McAlister, scorer of all 14 of his side's points, stepped up to take a last minute penalty.

His effort seemed to curl over the right-hand post but, after consolation with the television match official, the referee ruled it out.

Sale's failure to win cost them dear - both Worcester and Bath leapfrogging their Premiership rivals in the quarter-final seedings to push Philippe Saint-Andre's side into third.

Although it means they will enjoy a home quarter-final against French side Brive, they will have to hit the road once more should they reach the semi-finals, with a trip to either Bath or Leeds on the cards.

Sharks should have known it wasn't going to be their day, as they faced a tough test right from the start.

Despite a good spell of early dominance, they couldn't get any points on the board, mainly due to errors and a lack of precision in their play.

Federico Todeschini spurned a penalty chance on the half hour mark before McAlister finally got the scoreboard ticking over five minutes later, knocking over a penalty following a lineout offence.

But Sharks threw that lead away almost instantly. All season, they have struggled at the restart and it happened again, as Warren Britz capitalised on confusion within the visiting ranks to pick up from a ruck and dash under the posts. Todeschini added the extras.

McAlister narrowed the gap with a penalty soon after before the brilliant All Black centre, seemingly on a one-man rescue mission, put his side in front.

After showing superb skill to score a try before the break, he added a further penalty early in the second half after Montpellier winger Olivier Sarramea had been sin-binned and at that point it seemed the game was beyond the home side.

But then came the fightback. Mark Cueto was sin-binned for a high tackle and, on 65 minutes, Montpellier were unlucky not to level the scores, Sebastien Kuzbik denied a try only by that pesky TMO.

It wasn't long before they got their reward, however, as young number 8 Louis Picamoles charged over and Todeschini converted to tie things up with 11 minutes left.

McAlister had three chances to snatch the win with the boot but two penalties were missed and the other controversially denied.