Alex Sanderson believes Josh Beaumont has finally banished his injury demons after his man-of-the-match display helped fire Sale to a 27-17 Premiership win against Gloucester.

Joe Carpenter, Tommy Taylor and Ben Curry all crossed for the hosts in a first-half blitz that proved too hot for the shell-shocked Cherry and Whites to handle.

Second-row Beaumont, aged 29, has suffered a barrage of injuries in recent years but delivered a thunderous display at the AJ Bell Stadium to help the high-flying hosts hold on for a hard-fought triumph throughout the second half.

Boss Sanderson admits Beaumont was forced to battle back from the brink of retirement but hopes keeping him fit can boost his side’s play-off hopes.

He said: “(Rob’s) a great bloke and he’s had some real rotten luck with injuries.

“I think it has tested him even in terms of his motivation to continue playing.

“He’s come out of it this season and he’s been absolutely outstanding so we’re all dead chuffed for him. The fact he’s back playing – and playing well – is just superb.

“I said to the lads, I’ve just marvelled at the courage and heart they showed in the second half with their backs against the wall.

“To dig it out like that and get a decent win – they deserve the week off with a bit of fun!”

Sale got off to a flying start and took the lead after just five minutes as a cross-field kick from Rob du Preez found full-back Carpenter, who dotted down in the corner.

Hooker Taylor soon grabbed a second when Sale powered over from a rolling maul but Gloucester hit back with a near-carbon copy of that move, as Argentine Santiago Socino went over in the 14th minute.

Captain Curry then scored Sale’s third try after good work from Sam James but the visitors responded once again, claiming their second when winger Jake Morris hared down after his own grubber kick to touch down.

Gloucester scored again after half-time as Freddie Clarke capitalised on a scramble to dive on a loose ball, but they were unable to tee up a grandstand finale as Sale’s fast start did the damage.

Head coach George Skivington, whose side now sit fifth in the table, said: “We don’t take anything from the game points-wise but I’m really pleased with what I saw today.

“There’s some guys who haven’t played much Premiership rugby full stop – some getting their first start.

“Potentially that early lead they got on us at the beginning of the game was a little bit too much to claw back against such a good defensive team.

“We get no points so we can’t be happy, but the character and some of the lads out there experiencing Sale away for the first time – there’s a lot of good in that.”