SALE Sharks director of rugby Steve Diamond admits league wins are a must after a deserved victory over Harlequins in the Anglo-Welsh Cup at the Twickenham Stoop on Friday night.

Will Addison kicked eight points and Neil Briggs scored the Sharks’ only try in a 13-10 win which moved the side temporarily to the top of Pool Two.

Diamond told the club's website: "I think we just edged it, there were quite a lot of dubious decisions by a young referee but that's the way it goes.

“I think we played really well in the first half and they turned the wind off at half time.

"We just couldn’t convert the chances we had. They were spirited and are a good side at home so I’m glad we stayed patient and ‘eeked’ out the win in the end. We probably just deserved it.”

Sharks return to home soil on Friday night when they host Newcastle Falcons in the Premiership.

And Diamond wants the cup form to be transferred to the league.

He added: “We’ve got to win in the league, we’re not used to being down where we are and we’ve got to win.

"We've got two back-to-back home games coming up against Wasps and Newcastle, and we've got to be at our attritional best.

"The victory against Quins has done us a lot of good defensively and we've got to prepare to win in the Premiership at any cost.”