Seventh successive home defeat as Saints are sunk by Sharks

The Sharks overwhelmed the black, green and gold with their raw power coming to the fore, helping Sale to bag the try bonus point before half-time.

The first-half misery was added to by an injury to the ever-influential Courtney Lawes, while Sale lost Cobus Wiese and Manu Tuilagi soon after.

But it wasn't to make much difference to the Sharks as they scored twice more after the break and powered on in their pursuit of a Gallagher Premiership top-four place.

For Saints, it was another hugely deflating night as they lost for the 12th time in their past 14 matches ahead of Sunday's season finale at Gloucester.

Chris Boyd's side lost Rory Hutchinson to an ankle injury before the game, meaning Matt Proctor moved into the centres with Taqele Naiyaravoro coming in on the wing.

And it was to be far from the start Saints wanted when the game started as a relentless spell of Sale pressure eventually ended with Rob du Preez sending the ball wide in tidy fashion for Luke James to score.

The conversion was missed but Saints soon suffered another big blow as Courtney Lawes was helped off the field after suffering what appeared to be an ankle injury.

Nick Isiekwe replaced Lawes and was soon helping Saints to grab lineout ball before Naiyaravoro intercepted inside his own half but failed to spot Alex Mitchell in support.

Injury issues were spreading with Sale losing lock Wiese and England centre Tuilagi soon after Lawes was forced to leave the field.

Saints were really struggling to get out of their own half and drive after drive came with Saints shipping penalties at an alarming rate.

It eventually led to Wayne Barnes awarding a penalty try to the men in red, extending their lead to 12-0.

The pain was exacerbated by a yellow card for Api Ratuniyarawa, but Saints responded really well.

After kicking a penalty to the corner, Dan Biggar got his hands on the ball and slipped Ahsee Tuala through a gap, with the Samoan finishing well.

Biggar added the extras to cut the gap to five points but there was a nightmare moment soon after as the Wales star failed to gather the ball while trying to cover and it went through his legs for the onrushing Luke James, who had kicked ahead, to score.

Rob du Preez hit the post with the conversion to leave the gap at 10 points, with Ratuniyarawa returning to the field soon after.

Saints thought they'd scored when they rumbled towards the line but Shaun Adendorff's foot was deemed to be in touch and Sale were able to escape.

It was getting a bit feisty, sparked by an earlier hit on Naiyaravoro that eventually sparked a small brawl.

Sale were showing plenty of desire in defence, stopping Saints at source, and delivering with bite at the other end of the field.

Simon Hammersley finished off another flowing move just before the break, bagging his side's bonus point.

The conversion again went wide but Sale boasted a 22-7 lead as Saints trudged off to reflect on another humbling half.

Rob du Preez missed a penalty at the start of the second period and Saints then put plenty of pressure on with a series of kicks to the corner, but Sale refused to relent, holding out well.

That was until Mitchell made his mark, adding to a lively display with a clever show and go after Biggar had taken a quick tap penalty.

Biggar added the extras and the gap was just eight points with 20 minutes to go.

But Saints then lost Biggar to injury, while Ryan Olowofela was also forced off, heading for a HIA after only just entering the action.

Nevertheless, Isiekwe soon did well to deliver a try-saving tackle on Hammersley, before Ehren Painter won a big scrum penalty to help Saints escape their own 22.

But after a pass went horribly awry in the Saints 22, the pressure was back on and Sale seized the opportunity, sending Rohan Janse van Rensburg over in the corner.

Rob Du Preez missed from the tee yet again, but his tough night with the boot wasn't to matter, and he did add the extras after Valery Morozov made it six tries on the night for Sale.

Saints: Furbank; Tuala, Proctor, Dingwall, Naiyaravoro (Olowofela 62 (Naiyaravoro 63)); Biggar (Francis 60), Mitchell (Taylor 74); Iyogun (Seville 74), Matavesi (Fish 56), Franks (Painter 56); Ribbans, Ratuniyarawa (Harrison 62); Lawes (Isiekwe 8), Ludlam (c), Adendorff.

Sale Sharks: L James; van Rensburg (Yarde 74), S James, Tuilagi (Hill 13), Hammersley; R du Preez, de Klerk (Cliff 74); Harrison (Morozov 54), Langdon (van der Merwe 57), Oosthuizen (Cooper-Woolley 57); Wiese (Phillips 12), JL du Preez; Ross (c), T Curry, D du Preez.

Referee: Wayne Barnes