Sale back on track
12 April 2012
Sale got the defence of their Guinness Premiership crown up and running at the second time of asking by sinking Northampton 32-20 in a bruising encounter at Edgeley Park.
Having lost their opener to Leicester last Sunday, the champions had a point to prove and, inspired by the 22-point haul of vibrant fly-half Charlie Hodgson, they duly delivered.
The Sharks scored tries through Mark Cueto and Magnus Lund, and generally bullied the Saints throughout in a tempestuous game that threatened to boil over on a number of occasions.
The visitors, who slipped to their first defeat of the campaign, outscored Sale in the try stakes, Sean Lamont - twice - and Paul Tupai going over, but their penalty count was high and Hodgson made them pay.
