Hodgson stars for Sharks

Charlie Hodgson scored 17 points as Sale Sharks recorded a 22-16 victory over Guinness Premiership leaders Gloucester on Friday evening.

Hodgson was able to turn out for the Sharks after being left out of England's match-day squad for Saturday's RBS Six Nations fixture against Ireland.

And the fly-half made the most of his return to domestic duty with four penalties from five attempts, a drop goal and a conversion of his side's only try, which he had created for Ben Foden in the 52nd minute.

The match was not the greatest spectacle with precious little in the way of free-flowing rugby, not helped by a pitch that resembled a cabbage patch.

Willie Walker opened the scoring with a sixth-minute penalty for the visitors, but his opposite number Hodgson soon converted two of his own to edge Sale ahead and they never looked back.

Hodgson extended his side's advantage to 9-3 with a 23rd-minute penalty before Walker failed twice with long-range attempts.

The best try-scoring opportunity of the first half occured a minute before the interval when Sale flanker Chris Jones looked to have the easiest of tasks in ushering No.8 Sebastien Chabal over the line in the left corner, only to throw the pass forward.

Another Walker penalty on the stroke of half-time kept Gloucester in contention at 9-6.

Sale's lead was extened to nine points with Hodgson's fourth penalty in the 43rd minute and a drop goal five minutes later.

Tuohy sin-binned

In between, Gloucester had second-row Dan Tuohy sent to the sin-bin for a late challenge.

Hodgson then created a try for Foden with an excellent long pass that the full-back - playing for the first time since November after a shoulder injury - ran onto at pace and darted over the whitewash. Hodgson added the extras from the near the touchline to put Sale 22-6 ahead.

Walker earned Gloucester a bonus point by slotting his third penalty and adding the extras to a late penalty try.

Dean Ryan's men have now lost their last five encounters at Edgeley Park but at least the bonus point allowed them to extend their lead at the top of the Guinness Premiership to five points over Bath.