SHARKS continued their rise towards the top, moving into second place, just a point behind Gloucester with a game in hand.

Kingsley Jones’s men turned on the style in the second half, collecting a bonus point against the Guinness Premiership’s basement side.

Bristol started and ended the game well, but spent most of the second half desperately trying to stem a non-stop navy blue tide. With international class at half back in Peel and Hodgson, the home team had the platform for a stream of exciting attacks.

Centres Tait and Keil made sure that the ball went the entire width of the Edgeley Park pitch.

Two Jarvis penalties gave Bristol a 6-0 lead within ten minutes, but the Sharks’ momentum was steadily building.

The home side increasingly pressured the visiting defence, finally crossing the try line five minutes before half time. Peel tried to wriggle over after a ruck and was held up, but the forwards made a concerted charge and shepherded Roberts over.

Any chance of the home side slipping up on this potential “banana skin” fixture was banished by three tries within a ten minute spell. Peel laid on Sale’s second try after 54 minutes: Schofield had almost rolled over, but was deemed to have been held up. The scrum half zipped through from the 5-metre scrum, enabling supporting skipper Fernandez Lobbe to claim the try. A pinpoint Hodgson pass set up Macleod for his first try in Sharks colours, then some thrilling play across the park saw speedy winger Kuadey offload to Briggs out on the left for the full five points. Former England number 8 Ward-Smith scored a consolation effort in the game’s final phase, to take his side into double figures.

Hodgson contributed twelve points with the boot, from three conversions and two penalties.

Sharks’ Director of Rugby Kingsley Jones said, “It’s nice to be near the top on 45 points, but we have some difficult fixtures to come. I hate this sort of game, where we have everything to lose.

"Bristol had received a lot of criticism after their performance against Newcastle, but they’ve a lot of pride and it showed.”

The team have an away fixture against Saracens on Sunday (3 p.m.) at Vicarage Road, Watford. Successes at the venue have been few and far between - the last win there was in September 2005. England skipper Steve Borthwick will be absent, but a familiar face among the Sarries’ ranks is ex-Leeds and Ospreys scrum half Justin Marshall.

Saracens go into the game on the back of a disappointing defeat at Newcastle last Friday, so the Sharks need to be on their guard. A case of “any win will do”, perhaps.

Off the field, the exodus at the end of the season continues. Jason White, Sebastien Chabal, Sebastien Bruno and Lionel Faure are expected to be playing in France next year, whilst definite news on the future planning of Rory Lamont and Luke McAlister is imminent. Kingsley Jones has been busy with future player and coach recruitment, but when announcements are being contemplated, due respect has to be given to a person’s current club.

Jones indicated that there could be news of coaching appointments “in the next week or two”. Tickets for the next home game versus Newcastle Falcons on Sunday, 8th March (1.15 p.m.) are selling well, and the club also has a “Final Four” package offer. For details, ring 08444 994 994 or book online through www.salesharks.com.