BIRTHDAY boy George Nott helped Sale Sharks find the key to the winning door as they ended a run of 10 successive defeats against Scarlets.

Nott, who turned 21 last Saturday, helped Sharks to beat the Welsh outfit 25-23 at the AJ Bell Stadium in the Europan Rugby Champions Cup and he admitted it could not have been a better birthday present.

It was his second start of the season and he played the full 80 minutes.

Nott told the club's website: "I'm over the moon with the result. We've had a tough few months with results, but we stuck together. It was great to get the win, and for it to be on my birthday just tops off my day.

"It was great to play 80 minutes,and I'm really grateful for the opportunity.

"I take every week as it comes, one week at a time, and I hope to continue over the next few weeks in the Anglo-Welsh Cup. "Scarlets were a physical side, but I thought we matched and topped them. We slipped off towards the end but showed great character to get the win, despite being under the cosh."

Attention now turns to the Anglo-Welsh Cup, where qualification to the semi-finals is still possible for the Sharks.

They currently lie bottom of Pool Two, but all sides have won one game and lost one.

Sharks host Cardiff Blues on Friday, kick off 8.15pm.