Andy Vilk grabbed Sale's second try in his first appearance of the season.
SALE put in possibly their best performance of the season so far as they steamrollered Harlequins on their way to a Guinness Premiership play-off place.
In difficult circumstances Sharks pulled off a 23-16 triumph that took them within 80 minutes of a top four finish. Now only London Irish - the visitors to Edgeley Park on Saturday - stand between them and a place in the Premiership semi-finals.
Neither side needed any extra motivation at the Stoop but in a battle between seasoned performers and young upstarts, it was always clear which was which.
While Quins' approach showed naivety - the home side attempting to play a high-tempo running game throughout - Sharks were the epitome of calm and experience.
The sheer power and focus of their forward pack pushed them ever onwards to a victory that will rank among the club's best in recent years.
Such a result had seemed a million miles away in the early stages.
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Harlequins took the game to the visitors with enthusiasm and ability and as they kept the ball alive through phase after phase for fully five minutes, it was clear what was coming.
Despite their best efforts, Sale simply couldn't hold out and when they found themselves stretched out wide, Quins wing Tom Williams slipped through to score in the corner.
With their lineout failing badly, Sharks were unable to gain any kind of foothold in the game and once Adrian Jarvis had landed two penalties to make the score 11-0, the task seemed impossible.
Rather than daunting the visitors though, it served only to refocus their minds.
On just their second foray into the home 22, Sale dragged themselves back into the game when Luke McAlister's clever pass sent Chris Jones rampaging through the middle and the second row offloaded for Richard Wigglesworth to score.
Charlie Hodgson converted and the game's balance of power quickly shifted.
The gap was cut to just one when Hodgson kicked another penalty and, with an unstoppable momentum building, Sharks surged ahead in first half injury time.
Andy Vilk was a somewhat unlikely hero but the manner in which he took his try on his first appearance for Sharks this season was certainly impressive, the winger turning on the gas to blast past the Quins defence and score from 40 metres. Hodgson added the extras to make it 20-11 at the break.
Sharks stayed in control for the majority of the second half, Hodgson adding a penalty to give them a comfortable cushion.
But as the game approached its conclusion and nerves became frayed, indiscipline almost led to what would have been a remarkable collapse.
Andrew Sheridan was yellow-carded for throwing a punch at George Robson, although in the giant prop's defence, it was only as the result of serious provocation.
Soon after, Juan Fernandez Lobbe followed his teammate, sent to the sin-bin for pulling down a rolling maul, meaning it was a real case of backs against the wall.
Harlequins' pressure on their shorthanded pack soon told when Danny Care slipped over following a lineout to set up a tense finale.
But Sale, owners of the best defensive record in the Premiership, were not to be broken and showed incredible resilience to close out a vital win.
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