Hodgson sinks Bath

Charlie Hodgson booted 17 points to guide Sale Sharks to a 22-6 victory over Bath on Friday evening.

The fly-half's haul came from four penalties, a conversion and a drop goal to ensure the Sharks claimed the scalp of the Guinness Premiership leaders in difficult conditions at Edgeley Park.

Sale winger Oriol Ripol scored the only try of the contest, created by Hodgson's cross-field kick, just before half-time, while Bath's points came courtesy of a penalty in each half.

Incessant rain turned the playing surface, which is also home to Stockport County and has steadily deteriorated throughout the season, into a quagmire.

The match was only given the go-ahead after a pitch inspection 30 minutes before kick-off and it was Sale, and Hodgson in particular, who adapted far better.

Guile

Hodgson controlled proceedings, his guile with ball in hand prevented the game descending into an all-out war of attrition between the respective packs.

A well-struck penalty in the third minute from the Yorkshireman opened the scoring, and he doubled that advantage five minutes later with another three-pointer.

Hodgson's opposite number, Shaun Berne, missed a penalty from distance but did succeed in the 14th minute to break the visitors' duck.

Bath's cause was not helped when Berne was forced off after taking a heavy blow to the mouth mid-way through the first half and was replaced by Gloucester-bound Olly Barkley.

Flighted

Hodgson extended Sale's lead to 9-3 just after the half-hour mark with a drop goal, and then, on the stroke of half-time, flighted a kick into the left-hand corner for Ripol to chase.

Ripol's opposite wing Andrew Higgins dropped the ball, allowing Ripol to collect and touch down for a try.

Hodgson added the conversion from the touchline, but Barkley gave Bath hope by reducing their deficit to 16-6 early in the second half.

But there was no prospect of a Bath comeback and Hodgson slotted two further penalties, in the 50th and 60th minutes, to ease the hosts to victory.

The result moves Sale up to fourth in the Guinness Premiership, while Bath remain top, level on points with Gloucester.