Saints crush toothless Sharks
Northampton left a huge dent in Sale's title hopes as they ran-in four tries in a 38-3 drubbing at Franklin's Gardens.
Last Updated: 14/03/09 7:34pm
Northampton left a huge dent in Sale's title hopes as they ran-in four tries in a 38-3 drubbing at Franklin's Gardens.
Saints were in charge by half-time thanks to the boot of Barry Everitt and a try from Paul Diggin and further scores after the break from Ben Foden, Roger Wilson and James Downey handed them the bonus point.
Sale's season is beginning to falter on the back of an increasing injury crisis and they travelled without 11 first-team regulars because of injuries, suspension and international commitments
They suffered another setback when replacement hooker Marc Jones sustained an injury in the warm-up, so former Exeter prop Joe Horn-Smith was promoted from travelling reserve, but their problems just got worse when scrum-half Chris Leck, centre Chris Bell and lock Dean Schofield were all injured inside 25 minutes.
They held out for half an hour though. Northampton twice got close to scoring tries - Diggin was forced into touch after former Shark Foden made the initial break, then Foden knocked on over the line when Bell put in a crunching tackle.
Instead Saints had to rely on two penalties from Everitt to nudge ahead, but Charlie Hodgson narrowed the deficit with a 25th minute penalty.
Superb
But the pressure eventually told when Diggin rounded off a superb move for the opening try five minutes later, Foden again wriggled free on the left and former Sale prop Barry Stewart helped to switch the direction of the attack.
Everitt added the conversion followed by two more penalties before the break.
Sale's Scotland full-back Rory Lamont hobbled off early in the second half on his comeback after three months out with an ankle injury, and their woes mounted when winger David Doherty was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on when Bruce Reihana tried to chase a crossfield kick.
Everitt missed the kick at goal, but Foden soon put Wilson over the try line although it was disallowed for a boot in touch.
However, Saints did not have to wait long to extend their advantage, Courtney Lawes breaking free before sending Foden clear to score unopposed.
Northampton thought they had scored again when Soane Tonga'uiha battered his way to the line but referee Dean Richards ruled that the ball had not been grounded.
It proved to be a temporary respite for Sale as number eight Wilson picked up from the resulting scrum and dotted down with Stephen Myler, who replaced Everitt, adding his second conversion.
And Northampton clinched the bonus point with the final play of the game when centre Downey went over on the overlap against an exhausted defence.