PARTY poopers London Irish struck again to bring Sale Sharks' flying start to the season to a juddering halt.
Five months on from destroying Sale's hopes of reaching the Guinness Premiership play-offs, Toby Booth's jolly green giants heaped more misery on a Sharks side that up until last night had swept all before them.
As well as shattering Sale's perfect league record, Irish rubbed further salt in the visitors' wounds by taking a wrecking ball to the Sharks' iron-clad defence which prior to kick-off had not conceded a try all season.
If it was a hugely disappointing way to sign off Sale's league campaign ahead of a six-week Cup hiatus, credit should go to the hosts whose four tries, courtesy of Richard Thorpe, Peter Hewat, Alex Corbisiero and Sailosi Tagicakibau served notice of their reputation for being the league's great entertainers.
Awards
Not content with their proud status as unbeaten league leaders, Sale had arrived at the Madejski Stadium also buoyed by a double awards boost with Philippe Saint-Andre and Luke McAlister being named the respective Guinness Premiership director of rugby and player of the month.
But some of the sheen may already have come off those two baubles in the face of last night's defeat if not the manner.
Industry and, at times, invention were there in evidence but the Sharks were given a taste of their own medicine by way of a Fort Knox like Irish defence.
And they also hugely contributed to their downfall with a succession of unforced errors which drew the sting from much of their attacking threat.
However, the hosts' rip-roaring, powerful back-line, coached by former England war-horse Mike Catt, was a constant thorn in their side with impressive fly-half Peter Hewat pulling the strings.
Perhaps the defeat shouldn't have come as such a shock.
Despite their unfashionable status, the Exiles had already served potent warning of their quality prior to kick-off, having shocked champions Wasps in the season opener at Twickenham and coming within three points of beating Leicester at their Welford Road fortress.
Right from the first whistle, both sides served notice of their intention to run the ball. However, Irish's early efforts foundered on Sale's back-line.
Crucial
For the Sharks, their cutting edge was repeatedly blunted by crucial knock-ons and misplaced passes.
As a result, the early points all came from the boot with Exiles fly-half Peter Hewat kicking a penalty and drop goal with Sharks' Charlie Hodgson's sole penalty sandwiched in between what was an engrossing match-up.
The pity of it was that, because of fixture congestion, such an attractive clash was shoe-horned into the middle of the week, leading to a much smaller attendance than might have been expected in this leafy corner of Berkshire.
Those that did make the journey - especially those hardy souls in blue and white who braved the M40 south, were treated to a bruising battle, all the more impressive when you consider it was both sides' second punishing outing in five days.
They were also privy to a slice of unwelcome history, from the visitors point of view, when after 357 minutes of imperious rearguard action, Sale finally conceded a try, Irish flanker Richard Thorpe smashing his way through from close range after a sustained period of home pressure.
Omens
Things got worse when centre Chris Bell was yellow-carded immediately afterwards, presumably for dissent, and with lock Sean Cox having to be replaced by Jason White after damaging his knee, the omens didn't look good.
And though Hodgson closed the gap on the stroke of half-time with his second penalty of the night, Irish reasserted control eight minutes into the second half when that man Hewat evaded three tackles to score in the corner.
The game was as good as up on the hour when the Irish full-back snaffled another Sale attack and sprinted 50 yards before helping set up prop Alex Corbisiero for the Exiles third try of the night, Hewat again converting.
Sale's misery was sealed four minutes from time with winger Sailosi Tagicakibau driving through for the Exiles' fourth try to wrap up an evening to forget for the men in white and blue.
London Irish: Armitage; Ojo; Sevealii; Mapusua; Tagicakibau; Hewat; P Hodgson; Corbisiero; Coetzee; Lea'aetoa; Kennedy; Casey; Thorpe; Armitage; Hala'ufia
Sale Sharks: Tait; Cueto; Bell; McAlister; Doherty; C Hodgson; Peel; Sheridan; Briggs; Turner; Schofield; Cox; Ormsby; Lobbe; Chabal
Ref: Ashley Rowden
Att: 7,563