Gaskell shines in Sale victory

The 19-year-old lock from Sandbach, who stands 6ft 7in, created a try for skipper Dean Schofield in the 37th minute with a fine run.

Gaskell then went over himself shortly after the restart as Sale responded in style to last week's thumping defeat in Toulouse.

The early exchanges were all about Cardiff and two penalties from Blair put them 6-0 ahead by the 11th minute before he spurned the opportunity to claim his third moments later. Cardiff centre Lee Thomas was then off target with a penalty.

Charlie Hodgson got Sale off the mark with a penalty in the 25th minute before Leigh Halfpenny put one wide from distance for Cardiff three minutes later. Almost immediately, however, the Wales international found his range with a superbly-struck penalty to put Cardiff 9-3 ahead.

But eight minutes before the break Hodgson embarked on a delightful weaving run and almost pirouetted his way through the Blues' defence. His progress was halted but Sale kept the ball alive and Sisa Koyamaibole touched down in the right corner for a try awarded after long deliberation by the video referee. Hodgson tagged on the extras.

Things got even better for Sale when Powell was sent to the sin bin for a late challenge. Leading 10-9, the pendulum had swung in Sale's favour and they capitalised in style in the 37th minute when Gaskell showed impressive pace to evade a clutch of Cardiff defenders and Schofield arrived in support to burst over the line.

Hodgson added the extras and three minutes after the restart Koyamaibole's neat short offload ushered the willing Gaskell over from close range. Hodgson added his third conversion but Cardiff soon hauled themselves back into the game in the 50th minute when Andy Powell burrowed his way over and Blair converted.

Hodgson hit the post with a penalty on the hour mark as Sale were denied further breathing space but after Blair landed his third penalty, Hodgson slotted a clever drop-goal to put his side 27-19 in front.

Sale then lost Lions prop Andrew Sheridan to injury in the 77th minute and were left stunned two minutes later when Robin Sowden-Taylor pounced on an errant throw from the line-out to touch down and Blair converted.