Sale Sharks 16 London Wasps 0
9:56am Saturday 6th October 2007
WASPS were shut out for the first time in the history of league rugby after Sale powered to a 16-0 victory at Edgeley Park on Friday.
But the London side are lucky the big doughnut next to their name on the scoreboard was their only major embarrassment because it could have been so much worse.
The visitors' try-line led a charmed life as Sharks piled on the pressure but only Magnus Lund managed to cross the whitewash, Charlie Hodgson kicking the remaining 11 points in an extremely comfortable win.
Sale played with more endeavour and invention than at any other time this season.
There is still work to be done if they are to mount a genuine title challenge but such a triumph against one of the biggest names in English rugby - achieved with 10 players still absent on World Cup duty - is no mean feat.
Once again Hodgson was at the centre of much that was good for his side despite picking up a heavy knock from Dan Leo early on, controlling the tempo and flow of the game, but it was Ben Foden who truly stole the show.
The 22-year-old scrum half has been a revelation since being moved to full back, solid in defence and a constant threat with ball in hand.
But not even Foden could breach the Wasps try-line throughout the first half.
Instead, Sharks had to turn to the ever-reliable boot of Hodgson to get the scoreboard ticking over, the fly half twice working himself into space to knock over neat drop goal attempts.
Wasps' only chance at points in the entire game saw Dave Walder miss a penalty attempt after his forwards had driven on purposefully inside the Sale half - and that was that for the visitors.
Hodgson knocked over a penalty of his own prior to the interval before the hosts pushed on early in the second half.
Foden was denied a scoring opportunity after Wasps' young England star Danny Cipriani high and late but Sale soon got their revenge.
Their imposing pack piled into the visitors' defence from a lineout, eventually driving Lund over the line from close range. Hodgson converted and it was game over.
Sharks could, and probably should, have added to their score but a late opportunity went begging after David Tait failed to ground the ball properly and Oriol Ripol was also denied as he darted towards the try-line.
But there were no more points left to squeeze out of the game and they happily eased their way to victory.
Messenger star man: Ben Foden