SALE Sharks were unceremoniously dumped out of the European Challenge Cup after being thumped 36-14 by Bath.
The injury-hit Edgeley Park side visited the Rec seeking a record third Challenge Cup crown but their quest was halted no sooner than it had started by the rampant home side.
Despite missing Jason White, Sebastien Chabal, Magnus Lund and Mark Cueto, Sharks did at least stay competitive for the first quarter of the match, hanging in there at 14-17 after 20 minutes.
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But then came a spectacular collapse.
Sale failed to score throughout the remaining hour and lost three more key players to injury - Chris Bell, Oriol Ripol and Charlie Hodgson all having to be replaced as the line-up took on a rather makeshift appearance.
It had started positively enough when Sharks edged ahead after just two minutes thanks to a Hodgson drop goal but that was their only lead of the game.
Bath's reponse was not only ruthless but swift.
Less than a minute later, Hodgson's boot became the root of his side's downfall, Michael Claassens charging down his clearance kick to score, Olly Barkley converting.
Soon after, Barkley added a penalty when Sale were penalised at scrum time and Bath looked to be completely out of sight when a swift move allowed Michael Lipman to score in the 12th minute, Barkley again adding the extras to make it 17-3.
But the visitors stuck at it.
Hodgson hit back with a penalty of his own before Chris Mayor narrowed the gap to six points with a try scored in controversial fashion.
After Bath had offended in front of their own try-line, the referee seemed to ask home captain Steve Borthwick to speak to his players about their conduct.
But while the Bath players huddled together in discussion, Hodgson used the penalty award to send a cross-kick to Mayor, who had a clear run to the line.
When McAlister pulled Sale even closer to their hosts with a long range penalty on 19 minutes, it seemed to be game on. Not so.
Just three minutes later Bath were back in command after good work from Butch James saw Danny Grewcock score - and that was that.
Sharks produced a bright enough start to the second half but Bath played with confidence and control, notching up try number four 17 minutes into the second period.
It was a frustrating blow for Sale, as it all came from McAlister's knock on, Lipman hacking forward from the loose ball for Andrew Higgins to touch down.
Hodgson prevented another try with a superb tackle on Nick Abendanon but injured himself in the process and in the chaos that followed Sharks' reorganisation, the home side grabbed their fifth score.
A marauding run from Higgins set them on their way and James' clever grubber put Matt Banahan in at the corner.
Sale never gave up but their efforts were in vain.
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