Sale tasted revenge in the most delicious way possible for the Pizzagate affair last night by registering their first win since New Year's Day to lift themselves off the bottom of the Guinness Premiership and up into 10th place.

 A priceless second-half try from scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth allied to 14 points from the boot of Charlie Hodgson and Wigglesworth himself earned Kinsgley Jones' men their first victory in nine games.

 With six games left of the campaign, Sale are still far from safe but the relief not to mention belief, this triumph in front of  a raucous Edgeley Park crowd, will give Sale may prove incalculable.

 The re-arranged fixture with the Londoners, who infamously refused to play the original fixture becuase they claimed a muddy pitch represented a danger and arrived at the ground eating pizza, was always going to carry added edge.
 But to relieved director of rugby Jones, the win represented his very own slice of rugby heaven.

 "It was a really good win and good performance," said the Sale director of rugby. "The club needed the win, the coaches needed the win the supporters needed and the players as well of course.

Questions

 "It was vital for us too in terms of answering a few questions about our game and attitude.We've got another six really tough games but we've moved off the bottom and now we've got to keep working.

 "We'll enjoy the next 48 hours and then focus on London Irish next Sunday. They have set the standard now, our set piece was much better and that was a big step for us.

"We're positive tonight but there is a still a lot of work to do."
 
Ironically after a bone dry month to date the Stockport rain, which had caused the visitors so much consternation last November, returned with a vengeance right on cue shortly before kick-off.

 But with so much at stake for the hosts, there was an edgy, nervy feel both on and off the pitch, a feeling only heightened when straight from the kick-off Charlie Hodgson's attempted kick was charged down by French legend Serge Betsen only for the ball to run over the try line.

 But with Wasps engineering a couple of slick early moves and Paul Sackey and David Lemi both blowing golden opportunities, the danger was clear and present.

Creaked

 However, at least Sale enjoyed the upper hand up-front early on and as the Wasps pack creaked under pressure so the penalty count totted up in the Sharks' favour, allowing Hodgson three valuable first-half penalties.

 It could have been even better with winger Ben Cohen claiming he had scored a try in the left wing only for referee Chris White to rule he had stepped into touch en route.

But at 9-0 the game was still on a knife-edge and Wasps came out for the second half with added resolve aided no doubt by a half-time rollicking from coach Shaun Edwards.

 And they slowly took the game to Sale, and their pack engineered an early siege of the Sharks line which after a five minute period ended with centre Ben Jacobs slicing through the hosts defence to score.

 Replacement fly-half Danny Cipriani was unable to add the conversion though and seconds later was wishing the Edgeley Park turf would swallow him up after from the restart he fumbled a pass to allow Sale scrum-half Wigglesworth the time to scoop the ball up and score a welcome try.

 With Hodgson adding the conversion, it looked like Sale could breathe a little easier again only for the indiscipline which has cost them so dearly to allow Cipriani the chance to narrow the deficit with a penalty.

Jangling

 And with the Sharks struggling to break free from their own half, the nerves started jangling again.

 However, as with their display against reigning champions Leicester on the opening day of the season, Sale's defence was outstanding and a priceless victory was assured four minutes from time when Wigglesworth slotted home another another penalty.

SALE: Vakacegu; James; Kennedy; MacLeod; Cohen; Hodgson; Wigglesworth; Roberts; Briggs; Forster; C. Jones; Schofield; Koyamaibole; Abraham; Ormsby

WASPS: Van Gisbergen; Sackey; Jacobs; Kefu; Lemi; Walder; Fury; Tauafo; Webber; Broster; Veale; Leo; Hart; Betsen; Ward Smith

Referee: Chris White

Attendance: 7,493