Sharks relish Cherries feast

Sale maintained their winning start with a 23-9 victory over Gloucester at Edgeley Park.

In the process the Sharks set a new Guinness Premiership record, becoming the first side in the history of the competition to play four successive matches without conceding a try.

Gloucester failed to offer much in the way of an attacking threat, despite fielding the likes of Ryan Lamb, Olly Barkley and Lesley Vainikolo.

Sale showed far greater potency throughout and Wales scrum-half Dwayne Peel made a key contribution just seconds after coming off the bench in the 49th minute.

Peel, having replaced Richard Wigglesworth, produced an astute offload to put Sebastien Chabal over the line from 15 metres with his first touch, and wing David Doherty finished off a fine flowing move to add a second score with 10 minutes remaining.

Victory was no more than Sale deserved on a night when Philippe Saint-Andre's men enhanced their title credentials in style and raised some serious questions marks about Gloucester's own aspirations.

The home side needed just two minutes to get off the mark as former All Black Luke McAlister landed the first of his two first-half penalties, although five minutes later he missed another from inside his own half.

Dominate

Sale quickly began to dominate and Charlie Hodgson's teasing grubber kick down the left exposed Vainikolo's defensive flaws, although this time the former rugby league star survived the scare.

With McAlister and Hodgson potent forces in Sale's midfield, the hosts looked a constant threat.

One such passing sequence in the 22nd minute almost produced a try but Doherty could not take Rory Lamont's pass in his stride after Hodgson had set the attack in motion.

However, Gloucester slowly began to find their feet and Barkley, playing at inside centre, drew his side level in the 27th minute with his first penalty.

The former Bath favourite then cancelled out McAlister's second penalty to tie the scores at 6-6 at the break.

Spectacular

Nine minutes after the restart the game burst into life in spectacular fashion.

Wigglesworth, having offered his side little in the way of attacking threat, was replaced at scrum-half by Peel, whose first contribution was to send Chabal galloping forward from around 15 metres out for a try which effectively sealed victory.

McAlister added the extras and Lee Thomas gave Sale further breathing space with a well-struck penalty.

Barkley's third penalty kept the visitors in contention but a brilliant move down Sale's left flank cut Gloucester to pieces and was finished by Doherty in the corner after excellent work from the impressive McAlister.

Thomas added the extras to complete another victory for a side that is already looking like championship material.