Hodgson steers a safe passage

European Cup Pools One and Two/Newport Dragons - 11 Sale Sharks - 38: England outhalf Charlie Hodgson guided Sale Sharks safely through a hazardous European Cup mission at Rodney Parade with an impressively assured display.

The Sharks tightened their grip on Pool One by recording a second successive victory, and they owed much of it to Hodgson, who scored 18 points, including an opportunist try.

Hodgson's England colleague Mark Cueto, elusive runner Daniel Larrechea, flanker Magnus Lund and centre Elvis Seveali'i also added tries, and Sharks left south Wales elated after collecting a bonus point.

Hodgson kept the scoreboard ticking over by converting all five touchdowns and booting a penalty that negated a second-half Dragons fightback. Although the Dragons were briefly reduced to 13 men following two sin-binnings in quick succession, wing Gareth Wyatt's third try in two European Cup games this season ensured a degree of respectability.

Sale, though, are well on course for the quarter-finals, and back-to-back victories over French challengers Castres in December should prove enough.

Sale, despite the huge lift of a comfortable victory over renowned European warriors Munster in their pool opener, knew that French giants Stade Francais and Perpignan had come unstuck on previous excursions to Rodney Parade. But the Dragons suffered a late injury blow when Wales lock Ian Gough withdrew from their starting line-up because of a rib problem.

Peter Sidoli replaced Gough, while Sharks preferred hooker Sebastien Bruno to Andy Titterrell and French recruit Larrechea returned at fullback, so skipper Jason Robinson featured on the left-wing.

The Dragons forwards displayed a hunger for work early on, yet those efforts were undone after 13 minutes when Sale scored against the run of play. Dragons centre Ceri Sweeney tried to clear possession from just outside the home 22, but Hodgson charged it down and managed to gather the ball for a try that he also converted - via an upright - from wide out. The Dragons were stung by such a setback, and although fly-half Craig Warlow's opening 45-metre penalty strike opened their account, they found themselves under increasing pressure from a heavyweight Sale pack.

Such relentless domination had to bring its reward, and Sale extended their lead on 25 minutes through a well-worked score.

Hodgson's half-break was sufficient to leave the Dragons' defence in a disorganised state, allowing Robinson plenty of time to consider his options before rifling out a try-scoring pass in Cueto's direction. It was the his ninth touchdown this season in all competitions, and with Hodgson effortlessly converting, Sale were cruising at 14-3 ahead.

Things got worse for the Dragons as half-time approached as Larrechea scampered over. Hodgson maintained his 100 per cent conversion success rate, and the Dragons trooped off having been reduced to 14 men when Sidoli was sin-binned by French referee Christophe Berdos for a technical infringement.

And within four minutes of the restart, flanker Andrew Hall followed Sidoli into the bin. But despite being reduced to 13 players, the Dragons responded magnificently by conjuring a try that originated inside their own 22 from Wyatt.

A Hodgson penalty restored breathing space in terms of a 13-point lead and Lund's try six minutes from time ensured a maximum five points. It was an emphatic case of job done when Seveali'i sprinted over deep into injury time.

NEWPORT: Morgan, Wyatt, Tuipulotu, Sweeney, Breeze, Warlow, Cooper, Maddocks, S Jones, R Thomas, Sidoli, Charteris, Hall, Forster, Owen. Replacements: Bryant for Sweeney (80), Fussell for Breeze (50), Black for Maddocks (50), Ringer for Forster (68). Not used: Brown, Bryan, Baber. Sin Bin: Hall (45).

SALE: Larrechea, Cueto, Taylor, Seveali'i, Robinson, Hodgson, Martens, Sheridan, Bruno, Turner, Jones, Schofield, White, Lund, Chabal. Replacements: Ripol for Larrechea (46), Todd for Taylor (77), Courrent for Martens (66), Titterrell for Bruno (53), Coutts for Turner (73), Lobbe for Schofield (57), Bonner-Evans for Chabal (71). Att: 7,844.

Referee: C Berdos (France).