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Last Updated: Sunday, 8 January 2006, 16:58 GMT

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Sale 31-29 Bristol

MATCH SUMMARY

Sale's Andy Titterrell is tackled by Darren Crompton

Sale: (15) 31
Try: Martens
Con: Hodgson
Pens: Hodgson 7
Drops: Hodgson

Bristol: (14) 29
Tries: Perry, Hayes, Lemi
Con: Hayes
Pen: Strange 3, Hayes

Sale stayed top of the Premiership as the lethal boot of Charlie Hodgson held off Bristol's spirited late fightback.

The England fly-half showed his full range of kicking skills with seven penalties, a conversion and a drop-goal in an impressive 26-point haul.

Sililo Martens crossed for Sale (65) but Tommy Hayes and David Lemi replied late on, adding to Shaun Perry's first-half score, to give Bristol hope.

But it was not enough as the Sharks avenged November's 22-14 away defeat.

Bristol were not helped by the fact that in a game littered with minor skirmishes, they lost both their captain Matt Salter and fly-half Jason Strange to the sin-bin mid-way through the second half.

It was while they were down to 13 men that Sale pressed home their advantage when Martens plunged over from the base of a ruck.

Strange had earlier made a vital contribution, however, kicking three first-half penalties to leave Richard Hill's men trailing just 15-14 at the break.

Sale coach Philippe Saint-Andre:
"We knew it would be tough. Bristol are well organised and prevented us getting quick ball.

"Being top of the league presents a big challenge every week but it is something that we must contend with."

"Charlie Hodgson was very good for us. He created lots of opportunities. His kicking was superb and he really won us the game."

Bristol coach Richard Hill:
"We are having too many players sin-binned and giving away too many penalties.

"One thing you don't do is give penalties away when Charlie Hodgson is on the field and he killed us off.

"But it was a huge effort from our players. I thought our defence at times was nothing short of heroic."

Sale: Robinson; Cueto, Todd, Seveali'i, Ripol; Hodgson, Martens; Faure, Titterrell, Stewart; Lobbe, Day; White, C Jones, Chabal.
Replacements: Taione for Todd (51), Larrechea for Ripol (10), Sheridan for Faure (59), Bruno for Titterrell (55), Turner for Stewart (64).
Not Used: Bonner-Evans, Foden.

Bristol: Stortoni; Robinson, Lima, Higgitt, Lemi; Strange, Perry; Hilton, Regan, Crompton; Winters, Llewellyn; Salter, El Abd, Ward-Smith.
Replacements: Hayes for Lima (63), Contepomi for Strange (73), Nelson for Regan (63), Sambucetti for Winters (57), Lewis for Ward-Smith (63).
Not Used: Irish, Thompson.

Sin Bin: Salter (51), Strange (62).

Att: 9,686

Ref: Roy Maybank (Kent).

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