European Cup Pool One/Sale Sharks 30 Gewnt Dragons 10: Even though Sale will now play in the European Cup quarter-finals for the first time their director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre was not entirely satisfied.
"We have done the first part but the dessert, the strawberries and the Chantilly, will be to play a quarter-final at home," said the Frenchman, after Mark Cueto's first two tries since November and one each by Charlie Hodgson and Sebastien Chabal had secured another five-point win.
To be sure of that home fixture they must do what no other team has managed in more than a decade of European rugby - beat Munster at Thomond Park .
"Yes, I know it is a difficult place to go," Saint-Andre added. "But you know, all records must stop one day."
Saint-Andre has good reason for refusing to take anything for granted, even with a four-point cushion over Munster. In 2003, the year after he left his coaching job at Gloucester, the West Country club were in a similar position, needing only to avoid defeat by more than 26 points to reach the last eight but ended up losing 33-6 to the last kick of the match in Cork.
But Saint-Andre added: "We have grown up a lot in the last 18 months. I know when it's tough we are ready."
They were far too strong and slick yesterday for below-strength Newport-Gwent Dragons, who have only one bonus point in losing five pool matches, surging 13-0 ahead inside 15 minutes with two Hodgson penalties and a converted Chabal try as Andrew Sheridan and his frontrow colleagues took an early grip on the scrums.
Chabal rumbled 20 metres down the touchline from a lineout move and went on to win the official man-of-the-match award for another eye-catching performance.
The highlight that sums up the number eight's all-action style was when he was being treated for a bloody nose: he rose from his haunches and threw away his hanky and made an important cover tackle after Newport took a quick tap-penalty.
Paul Turner, the former Sale outhalf who now coaches the Dragons, praised the his team's spirit after such a bad start, as they replied with a slick handling move finished off by Richard Fussell in the right corner. But Saint-Andre felt Sale had eased off by then.
"We played well for 15 minutes then did just the job to score four tries - not more, just enough," he said, the second coming on 28 minutes as Cueto danced around Aled Thomas after the Welsh had lost a scrum on their own feed.
Any Dragons hopes of a second-half fightback were doused inside two minutes as Hodgson took Jason Robinson's inside ball, ran 30 metres and then sent Cueto sprinting clear with a wonderful pass.
Turner said Hodgson "is playing the best rugby of his career", and although the Yorkshireman was handed off when Sione Tuipuloto scored the Dragons' second try in the 54th minute, he gained immediate revenge by beating the Tongan for the last score of the game four minutes later.
Turner was left to reflect on the huge strides Sale have made since he played for the club. "Ten years ago when I was here, who would have envisaged that?" he said, pointing out that a Welshman, Adrian Hadley, first approached the businessman Brian Kennedy to invest in the club. "This club was in dire straits before Brian came in. That's what we're looking for now."
Guardian Service
Scorers: Sale: Tries: Chabal, Cueto 2, Hodgson. Cons: Hodgson 2. Pens: Hodgson 2. Newport-Gwent Dragons: Tries: Fussell, Tuipulotu.
SALE: Larrechea; Cueto, Taylor, Seveali'i, Robinson; Hodgson, Wigglesworth; Sheridan, Bruno, Coutts, C. Jones, Schofield, Bonner-Evans, Lund, Chabal. Replacements: Ripol for Seveali'i (75 mins), Mayor for Hodgson (73), Foden for Wigglesworth (62), Titterrell for Bruno (62), Stewart for Coutts (59), Day for C. Jones (59).
Not Used: White.
NEWPORT-GWENT DRAGONS: A. Thomas; Fussell, Luscombe, Tuipulotu, Breeze; Sweeney, Baber; Maddocks, S. Jones, Robinson, Griffiths, Sidoli, Hall, Ringer, Owen. Replacements: Bryant for Luscombe (64 mins), Black for Maddocks (52), R. Thomas for Robinson (52), Gough for Griffiths (52), Oakley for Hall (64).
Not Used: Brown, Warlow.
Referee: Rob Dixon (RFU).
