Finn Russell provided the inspiration as Premiership leaders Bath claimed an entertaining bonus-point win after edging out a Sale side missing eight England players owing to international commitments.
The result was a big blow to Sale’s playoff hopes and how Alex Sanderson must have wished he could have called upon Tom Roebuck, George Ford, Raffi Quirke, Tom Curry, Ben Curry, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Bevan Rodd and Asher Opoku-Fordjour.
The Scotland fly-half was pivotal throughout and claimed 12 points with the boot to pass a century of points in the Premiership this season in a typically mercurial display that cemented his side’s status as title favourites.
The centre’s 54th-minute score saw Bath lead for the first time and it was an advantage they did not relinquish, with the replacement Tom Carr-Smith latching on to a kick from Russell to clinch their fourth try late on.
Russell’s deft handling helped create a first-half brace for wing Ruaridh McConnochie and he was at it again after the interval, sending a long pass out to Joe Cokanasiga who expertly ushered Max Ojomoh over the line.
