Sale 21-17 Harlequins

Sale (8) 21
Tries: Koyamailbole, Roberts Con: Hodgson Pens: Hodgson 3
Harlequins (14) 17
Tries: Evans, Croall, Cons: Evans 2 Pen: Evans

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Harlequins get to grips with Sale's Ben Cohen at a wintry Edgeley Park

Sale kept their Heineken Cup Pool Four hopes alive with a narrow win over Harlequins at a snowy Edgeley Park.

A Sisa Koyamailbole try gave Sale the lead but Nick Evans converted his own try to put Harlequins in front.

Aston Croall's converted score saw Quins go clear but a brace of Charlie Hodgson penalties cut the gap to three.

A converted Eifion Roberts try then put the hosts into the lead and although Evans landed a penalty, Hodgson slotted his third penalty to see Sale home.

The win means Sale trail pool leaders Toulouse by a point.

The Sharks' next game is away to Cardiff Blues in January, with their final pool game at home to Toulouse on the last weekend.

The match only went ahead after the club issued a call for volunteers to help clear the pitch of snow in Manchester.

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Sale director of rugby Kingsley Jones:
"On paper we're as good as any team in Europe. We've got three wins from four games and we're in a great position.

"We've showed we're mentally strong and we need to show it again against Cardiff and Toulouse.

"Cardiff and Toulouse will be very tough games but we are in a great position and need to back this up now in the Guinness Premiership.

"I don't think I played in as conditions as bad as that. They were big old snowflakes but full credit to Quins - they fronted up and I have a lot of respect for them."

Harlequins head coach John Kingston:
"It was an interesting challenge for the guys today but we approached it almost as a pre-season match.

"Clearly we were out of the competition but it was the best meaningful practice for the games that lie ahead in the Guinness Premiership."

"There was no safety issue (with the conditions) and both teams got stuck in."

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Sale: MacLeod; Cueto, M Tait, Thomas, Cohen; Hodgson, Peel; E Roberts, Briggs, Forster, C Jones, Schofield, Fearns, Abraham, Koyamailbole.

Replacements: Bishop for Thomas (60), Wigglesworth for Peel (57), M. Jones for Briggs (54), Halsall for Forster (62), Seymour for Koyamailbole (60).

Not Used: Kerr, Gaskell, Ripol.

Harlequins: Brown; T Williams, Lowe, Masson, Monye; N Evans, Dickson; Croall, Fuga, Lambert, Stevenson, Robson, Guest, Skinner, Easter.

Replacements: Clegg for Brown (74), Strettle for T Williams (55), Johnston for Croall (61), Jones for Lambert (61), Robshaw for Guest (55), McMillan for Skinner (66).

Not Used: Brooker, So'oialo.

Att: 7,768

Ref: George Clancy (IRFU).