CHARLIE HODGSON last night booked Sale a home-tie in the semi-finals of the Premiership play-offs.

Another of his famous master-classes gave Sharks the upper hand in front of a packed Edgeley Park against what on paper could have been very tricky opponents.

Earlier Bath coach Brian Ashton told his players to go out and really have a "lash" at Sharks but they did bank coming up against Sale's England gem in such commanding form.

On a night when Sale finished top of the Premiership, he kicked four penalties to open up the gap and then put the icing on the cake with a try which he converted himself.

Pressure

With both sides full of running, Bath shunned two early penalties.

Sharks were involved in some hefty defensive work as the Bath backs threw the ball around with abandon and young wing Nick Adendanon got within a whisker of a touchdown on 11 minutes.

The response from Sharks was led by skipper Jason Robinson and, when Bath infringed at a ruck, Hodgson stepped up to kick his side into the lead.

When Bath held on too long at a ruck five minutes later, Hodgson was happy to oblige with a second penalty. The action continued to be fast and furious and considerably more entertaining than much of the recent fare laid on for the fans.

Despite being without their England engine room of Danny Grewcock and Steve Borthwick, Bath were still a force to be reckoned with at the line-out.

Until Sebastien Chabal stole a Bath throw at a line-out almost on Sharks' line.

Bath's desire to be inventive rather than pragmatic helped Sharks because Hodgson was able to extend the lead with a third penalty on the half hour.

Wrong-footed

As half-time approached however, Bath tried everything in their armoury to open up the Sharks' defence and it happened when fly-half Chris Malone chased his own chip ahead to score under the post and add his own conversion leaving Sharks clinging on to a slender two point lead at the interval.

Sharks produced their best move of the game at the start of the second half, and while they still didn't manage to score a try, Hodgson added another penalty.

Minutes later hooker Andy Titterrell did get over but, to the chagrin of the crowd, Hodgson's pass was judged forward.

It was entertaining stuff, and Hodgson showed his class when he wrong-footed the Bath defence to score under the sticks.

His conversion was a mere formality but loved by the crowd.

At that stage Sharks were starting to look more in control. They kept the tempo high, probably mindful that Bath would still have been feeling the effects of last week's Heineken Cup semi-final against Biarritz but they rallied with a late try from second row James Hudson.

But the last words went to Sale when Chris Mayor seized on a Hodgson pass to go over for a match-sealing try that Charlie converted and England's Mark Cueto got in on the act with a stormer and then Chris Jones bagged a late try to give Sale a bonus point and the league title.