Sale beat European Cup semi-finalists Cardiff Blues 27-26 in a tense Pool Five match on Friday, but the win was overshadowed by an injury suffered by England and Lions prop Andrew Sheridan.
Injury-plagued Sheridan dislocated his left shoulder in the closing stages and is set to miss England’s daunting Autumn international program, which starts with a Twickenham clash against Australia on Nov. 7.
“Andrew’s in pain, but he’s sat upright and I’ve just had a little conversation with him,” Sale coach Kingsley Jones told the BBC. “The result makes me happy, but the injury to Andrew is very sad for us.”
Fellow forward James Gaskell, just 19, played a starring role for Sale who had been beaten 36-17 by triple European champions Toulouse in their tournament opener last week.
Gaskell created a try for skipper Dean Schofield in the 37th minute and then added his own try in the second half. Fijian flanker Sisa Koyamaibole had claimed Sale’s first try.
Cardiff, who had defeated Harlequins in their first match, saw Andy Powell score a try with Robin Sowden-Taylor pouncing on a loose ball to claim their second in the 79th minute.
Ben Blair converted to cut the gap to one point, but Sale held on to keep alive their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages.
There was better luck for Cardiff’s fellow Welshmen, with Newport Gwent Dragons, beaten by Gloucester last time out, clinching a 22-14 win over Glasgow.
French champions Perpignan, who were humiliated 9-8 by Treviso in their opening Pool One clash, hit back in style with a 29-13 home win over Northampton, who last week had seen off Munster 31-27.
Both sides scored a brace of tries, with Perpignan awarded a penalty try before David Marty crossed, while Chris Ashton and Brian Mujati scored for the Englishmen.
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