Bath 21 Sale Sharks 19

9:58am Sunday 30th September 2007

SALE suffered a cruel late blow at the Rec as Shaun Berne struck a minute from time to turn victory into defeat.

The visitors had led by a single point since the 57th minute but the jitters struck once more.

Chris Jones offended needlessly at a ruck, gifting Berne an unmissable penalty chance right at the death, and all Sharks' hard work was quickly undone.

Charlie Hodgson still had a couple of chances to steal the points in injury time but neither of his drop goal attempts were successful - and by that time it was sheer desperation anyway.

Sale had earlier clawed themselves back from a 12-0 deficit after a disastrous start to the game.

Bath attacked with pace and power and scored the game's first try just five minutes in. Berne kicked a penalty to the corner and the heavyweight pack did the rest, driving hooker Pieter Dixon over the line.

After Hodgson had wasted a chance to reduce the deficit, fluffing a penalty attempt, Bath raced further ahead when a sweeping backs move sent in giant wing Matt Banahan in the corner.

But the early onslaught didn't last.

Berne missed his second conversion attempt and a penalty before Hodgson masterminded his side's comeback.

The fly half scored a penalty and a drop goal to get Sharks up and running, but it was his smart tactical kicking and creativity that really stole the show.

His quick thinking opened up the Bath defence, allowing Chris Mayor to feed Oriol Ripol for the try and his conversion gave Sale the lead.

It didn't last long though.

James Scaysbrook came close to scoring for the home side before Berne struck a penalty to make it 15-13 at the interval.

Sale's dominance, on the scoreboard at least, was re-established early in the second half when Hodgson notched up a further two penalties.

When Berne responded with another of his own 23 minutes from the end, a tense finish was on the cards - and it certainly didn't disappoint.

Bath went close on a couple of occasions as Jack Cuthbert was bundled into touch as he headed for the line and Berne fluffed a three-point attempt after Sharks had offended once more.

But the two sides were locked in a stand-off until Jones handled at a ruck inside his 22 and a grateful Berne put the boot in.

Hodgson did his best to salvage something but it wasn't to be, scuffing his first penalty attempt and sending the other wide of the posts.

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