Sharks slay Dragons
The Sharks topped Pool Two after leaping ahead of previous leaders Dragons with five tries at the AJ Bell Stadium.
And that could even set-up a repeat match in the quarterfinals against the Dragons, who are already secured a place in the last eight as runners-up.
Brian Mujati, Josh Beaumont, Nev Edwards and Mike Haley all crossed as the 2002 and 2005 tournament champions avenged their 12-30 loss at Rodney Parade in Round One. A quiet opening was broken by a yellow card to the Dragons' Wales wing Hallam Amos who was ruled to have deliberately knocked Edwards' pass to ground.
And that decision was to cost the Dragons dearly as Cipriani turned the screw. The flyhalf kicked the immediate penalty and then provided the pass that beat three defenders for Mujati to thunder over for a try on 14 minutes.
Mujati was then part of a Sharks front row that had the upper hand in the scrum and ground out a penalty try that Cipriani converted. Dragons trailed 17-0 by the time Amos returned but the wing prevented Sale extending that when by preventing Haley grounding the ball over the line.
Sale were denied again from the resulting scrum when centre Sam James barged through, only to lose control of the ball. But skipper Beaumont made sure moments later when the England newcomer smashed through, with the help of Johnny Leota, for Sale's third try on the stroke of half-time.
Sharks needed just eight minutes of the second half to clinch the bonus point. Beaumont's initial burst was followed by Cipriani who collected his own kick before releasing wing Edwards for the corner.
Cipriani converted from the touchline and then made way, with his work done, at 31-0. Dragons registered on the scoreboard on the hour with a well-worked try for Ashton Hewitt after Adam Hughes' break.
But Sale had the last say when Haley crossed late for the fifth try, converted by Joe Ford, and they can now look forward to hosting one of the three best runners-up in the last eight in April.
The scorers:
For Sale Sharks:
Tries: Mujati, Penalty Try, Beaumont, Edwards, Haley
Cons: Cipriani 4, Ford
Pens: Cipriani
For Dragons:
Tries: Hewitt
Teams:
Sale Sharks: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Will Addison, 13 Sam James, 12 Johnny Leota, 11 Nev Edwards, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Peter Stringer, 8 Josh Beaumont (captain), 7 Magnus Lund, 6 Cameron Neild, 5 Andrei Ostrikov, 4 Bryn Evans, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Tommy Taylor, 1 Eifion Lewis Roberts
Replacements: 16 Neil Briggs, 17 Ross Harrison, 18 Vadim Cobilas, 19 Jonathan Mills, 20 Mark Easter, 21 James Mitchell, 22 Joe Ford, 23 Mark Jennings
Dragons: 15 Carl Meyer, 14 Ashton Hewitt, 13 Adam Hughes, 12 Adam Warren, 11 Hallam Amos, 10 Jason Tovey, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Nic Cudd, 6 Lewis Evans, 5 Rynard Landman, 4 Cory Hill, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Thomas Rhys Thomas (captain), 1 Phil Price
Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Boris Stankovich, 18 Shaun Knight, 19 Matthew Screech, 20 Ed Jackson, 21 Charlie Davies, 22 Angus O'Brien, 23 Nick Scott
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: David Wilkinson (Ireland), Sean Gallagher (Ireland)
TMO: Seamus Flannery (Ireland)
@ERChallengeCup
