Montauban 16 Sale Sharks 12 SALE Sharks’ task of qualifying from the Heineken Cup ‘pool of death’ was made much harder when they lost in a wet and windy Montauban on Saturday night. Four penalties from Charlie Hodgson had made the score 13-12 with 55 minutes gone, but Sharks were restricted to midfield in a second half battle, and a breakaway by the lime green-shirted home side with three minutes left saw Scots referee Peter Allen penalise Sebastien Chabal for not rolling away.

Petre Mitu stepped up to kick the final penalty. Sharks picked up a ‘losing bonus’ point, but are two points behind Munster in the group table, and now have to travel to Limerick on the third weekend of January to face the reigning champions at Thomond Park.

Hodgson and Rosalen exchanged early penalties before Montauban, showing ten changes from the side easily beaten at Edgeley Park the previous week, increased the tempo. The Sharks’ best effort came after Tuilagi kicked clear, Hodgson hacked on but slipped at a vital moment with the home tryline beckoning. The same players were involved in an attempted quick lineout after 30 minutes which misfired, leading to the game’s only try. Winger Vilmoni Delasau adapted his game to the slippery underfoot conditions by kicking ahead and chasing to score. Rosalen converted. Hodgson sent over a penalty just before the break, and added two on 51 and 55 minutes, the first from within his own half. Rosalen had kicked his second penalty just before Hodgson’s double, but his Romanian replacement Mitu had the final say.

It’s back to Guinness Premiership duty on Saturday as Sharks travel to Bath. Fourth plays Third: kick off is at 2.45 pm.

The Recreation Ground hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for Sharks in the past, with a lone victory in 2006 from their last twelve visits to the banks of the River Avon. Then it will be a quick turnaround before London Wasps visit Edgeley Park on Boxing Day (3pm).Fred Harvey