Sale's unbeaten home record came crashing down last night as Harlequins proved just too good for the Sharks for the second time in a month.

And as in last week’s opening LV= Cup defeat at Gloucester, another fade-out in the final 20 minutes proved fatal as the visitors fought back from 25-24 down to snatch victory, with winger Seb Stegmann sealing a hat-trick.

A second successive Cup defeat was the last thing Sharks supremo Steve Diamond wanted with several of his World Cup big hitters back in action. However, there may still be an outside chance for Sale to keep alive their semi-final hopes depending on how the three other sides in their group – all of whom lost last weekend – fare.

"There’s a sense of frustration but the best side won and we have got to look at ourselves. Our skill levels were below par and our defence was woeful in a couple of areas, so there are no excuses," admitted executive director of sport Diamond.

"We have got a lot to work on. We ask them to perform for 80 minutes but if they play like that it means they haven’t got their personal preparation right."

The Sharks got off to the worst possible start when Stegmann sprinted through their defensive line on seven minutes and it went from bad to worse just on the half hour when Tom Williams took advantage of an error by Richie Vernon. In attempting to keep the ball in play, the Scottish forward only succeeded in feeding the full-back, who sprinted in.

To their credit, Sale stormed back with full-back Rob Miller bursting clear to send in Will Addison. And on the brink of half-time, prop Alasdair Dickinson bulldozed his way over. With Nick Macleod converting both tries to add to an earlier penalty, it took Sale in 15-14 ahead at the break.

However, Quins started the second half as they had the first with Stegmann striking again on 44 minutes after a lighting counter-attack. Macleod fired in another penalty and then Sale restored the lead after some fine work by Mark Cueto allowed Jonny Leota to power in for his first try for the club.

With Macleod converting, Sale were ahead again and they looked set fair to inflict a first loss of the season on the visitors.

Instead, Quins proved just why they have swept all before them.

Fly-half Rory Clegg kicked three quick-fire penalties and with Sale playing catch-up, another breakaway sent Stegmann in to apply the coup de grace.

SALE: Miller; Addison; Leota; Burrell (Brady 54); Cueto; Macleod; Cliff (Peel 52); Dickinson; Taylor; Cobilas (Thomas 54); Holmes (Lewaravu 54); Gaskell; Vernon; Seymour; Easter.

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