Hodgson helps sink Bath

Charlie Hodgson scored 13 points as Sale Sharks bounced back from four successive defeats with a 23-16 victory over fellow play-off hopefuls Bath on Friday night.

England winger Mark Cueto made an immediate impact on his return from international duty with a try for Sale, while Argentine number eight Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe also crossed the whitewash for the hosts.

Bath's points came from the boot of Ryan Davis, meanwhile, and a try from flanker Jonathon Faamatuainu earned his team a losing bonus point in the last minute, which edges them ahead of Harlequins and into the top four.

Control

Forgotten England fly-half Hodgson certainly reminded Martin Johnson of his quality and he settled the nerves with a 50-metre penalty three minutes in.

Cueto then scooted round the outside and regained his feet after a Nick Abendanon ankle tap to scamper over in the corner to stretch the lead to 8-0, Hodgson failing with the conversion.

Davis fluffed the opportunity to put the visitors back in the contest with a 40-metre penalty before the Sharks increased the deficit thanks to two moments of brilliance in quick succession from their number 10.

Hodgson's pinpoint crossfield kick caused the visitors to turn the ball over on their own line and he then took full advantage by jinking over under the posts from close range and adding the goal.

The visitors had their first real opportunity two minutes from half-time, though, and Davis' close-range penalty at least ensured the score was 15-3 at half-time.

A second Davis penalty soon after the interval reduced the deficit further only for Hodgson to restore the Sharks' 12-point advantage with a close range penalty of his own on 51 minutes.

Another Davis penalty, bang in front of the posts from 40 metres, kept the visitors in contention before a powerful close range forwards charge drove Lobbe over the line to score 12 minutes from time. Hodgson hit the post with the conversion attempt.

A close range dart to the line from Faamatuainu, converted by sub Jack Cuthbert, ensured a tense finale, but the Sharks held on for a crucial victory.