SALE Sharks will have little time to dwell on their European Challenge Cup quarter-final success as they prepare for a gruelling three Guinness Premiership games in just 10 days.

The Edgeley Park side cruised into the semi-finals with a convincing 49-24 win over French side Brive on Friday night, but with important games against Bristol, London Wasps and Newcastle to come, they cannot afford to rest on their laurels.

At stake is a place in the prestigious Heineken Cup next season and Sale still have two options open to them.

Victory in the Challenge Cup will guarantee them a place in the Heineken Cup next season or they can qualify by finishing in the top four in the Premiership.

Director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre said: "We're in the semi-finals of the competition and are still in contention in the Guinness Premiership.

"It will be a big race in the Premiership but we're only a few points off the top and that's much better than at this stage last season.

"We have three big games to come and it was good to rest a few players."

Luke McAlister landed 19 points with the boot and provided a delightful crossfield kick which allowed Lee Thomas to touch down in the first half after Sebastien Chabal had already touched down for Sharks.

Saint-Andre added: "We rested Charlie but Luke showed what a good footballer he is.

"It was good to see him at fly-half - he showed a lot of class and is starting to gel more and more in the team."

Hodgson was rested after missing training the previous week following the birth of his first child.

Sale added further scores after the restart through Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (two), youngster Will Cliff' - his first for the club - and a penalty try which McAlister converted.

Brive, who were slow out of the blocks, went on to prove spirited opponents and scored four tries of their own through Farid Sid, Jean-Phillipe Bonrepaux and Vickus Liebenberg.

The only down side of the night for Sale was a leg injury which forced Chabal off in the second half.

Sharks now face a trip to Bath for the semi-final on April 26 after the West Country side hammered Leeds 57-5.

Honours between the two sides this season are currently even with Bath winning 21-19 at the Rec back in September and Sharks winning the return leg 22-6 just last Friday.

Worcester and Newcastle will battle it out in the second semi, guaranteeing an all-Premiership final on May 24.

SEDGLEY Tigers managed to keep their noses just in front in the battle to avoid relegation with a 16-6 win over Moseley.

The Park Lane side led 13-0 at the interval after Matt Riley scored the only try of the game. Former England A stand-off Phil Jones converted and added two penalties. He landed a third penalty in the second half.

It was a vital victory as both clubs below Tigers won their games with Pertemps Bees beating Newbury 20-16 and Launceston crushing Esher 41-0.

ENGLAND international Andy Farrell faces three months on the sidelines after suffering a total rupture of the AC joint in his shoulder injury in Saracens' 19-10 Heineken Cup quarter-final victory over Ospreys.

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