SALE Sharks director of rugby Steve Diamond praised his side's resilience after a 34-28 victory over Premiership big guns Wasps at the AJ Bell Stadium.

A 19-minute Denny Solomona hat-trick helped the side to a bonus-point victory on home soil.

Diamond told the club's website: "I thought we played well in the first half. They (Wasps) got their act into gear in the second half and the class in their team put us in a bit of trouble.

"However, over the last six weeks, where we've managed to eek out victories, that served us well today especially in the last five minutes.

"I thought we played well last week against Newcastle, and the way we're trying to play with Paul Deacon coaching them; we square up, spot gaps and go through them.

"You've got a chance of the interception, and that showed last week.

"We've hit form over the last six or seven weeks, and the first half was particularly good.

"His [Solomona] first try was a training ground move; we were doing that 20 years ago, but sides don't do it now, so I was pleased about that. His second and third try showed his true class.

"He's a good hard-working lad. What we're able to do with the way we develop players is to utilise the space on the field, and if you get players like him and Josh Charnley, there's going to be acres for them to score.

"Denny gets and makes his opportunities, if he keeps doing that, he'll go a long way."