As the World Cup is played out on the fields of France certain Guinness Premiership sides cupboards begin to look bare. Wasps and Sale between them are missing at least a full team, and both are struggling to maintain a semblance of the dominance they deserve.

So it was on Friday night that two teams wallowing at the foot of the Premiership table met. There was a lot at stake: pride; points; ticket sales. The game itself was a cracker, and the eventual scores do not indicate how the Sale backs finally found creativeity. There were several tries and near tries disallowed, much to the frustration of the Edgeley crowd.

Nevertheless the bulk of the Sale supporters left mightly satisfied at seeing a Magnus Lund try, two Hodgson drop goals, a Hodgson penalty and a Hodgson conversion answered by precicely nothing from Wasps. Nil.

It was a heroic performance from the Sharks defence, although, admittedly the Wasps failed to show too much threat. There were nevertheless outplayed and shut down by Sale.

There were excellent performances from an out of position Ben Foden and all of the pack, as well as leadership from Hodgson.

match report by Ben Lomond for salesupporters.co.uk