Maximum points for Northampton

Editor

Northampton picked up a bonus-point Premiership victory over Sale on Friday as they ran out 32-12 winners at the AJ Bell Stadium.

This win keeps the Saints very much in the play-off hunt while defeat leaves Sale well off the pace, with Worcester and Bristol circling.

First-half scores from Ken Pisi and Michael Paterson gave Northampton a 12-0 buffer before Sale wing Josh Charnley crossed. Fortunately for the Saints a penalty from Stephen Myler gave them a 15-7 cushion at the break.

Paterson scored again on 55 minutes before Bryn Evans hit back for Sale to make it 25-12, with the Saints still eyeing a bonus-point.

And they got it late on when replacement prop Ethan Waller went over to put the seal on an impressive result for Jim Mallinder's outift.

The scorers:

For Sale:
Tries: Charnley, Evans
Con: James

For Northampton:
Tries: Pisi, Paterson 2, E Waller
Cons: Myler 3
Pens: Myler 2

Sale: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Denny Solomona, 13 Johnny Leota, 12 Mark Jennings, 11 Josh Charnley, 10 Sam James, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Josh Beaumont (c), 7 Magnus Lund, 6 Cameron Neild, 5 Jonathan Mills, 4 Bryn Evans, 3 Halani Aulika, 2 Rob Webber, 1 Ross Harrison
Replacements: 16 Tom Curry, 17 James Flynn, 18 Kieran Longbottom, 19 George Nott, 20 Ben Curry, 21 Peter Stringer, 22 AJ MacGinty, 23 Byron McGuigan

Northampton: 15 Ahsee Tuala, 14 Ken Pisi, 13 Nafi Tuitavake, 12 Harry Mallinder, 11 Ben Foden (c), 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Teimana Harrison, 7 Calum Clark, 6 Jamie Gibson, 5 James Craig, 4 Michael Paterson, 3 Kieran Brookes, 2 Mikey Haywood, 1 Alex Waller
Replacements: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 Ethan Waller, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Api Ratuniyarawa, 20 Sam Dickinson, 21 Lee Dickson, 22 Juan Pablo Estelles, 23 James Wilson

Referee: Tom Foley
Assistant Referees: Hamish Smales, Andrew Jackson
TMO: Keith Lewis