SALE Sharks' supporters were on song at Edgeley Park when they helped record the club's new anthem ahead of their visit to Twickenham on Saturday.

Sale tenor Martin Toal was on hand to direct proceedings and lead the Sharks fans in a recording of Do You Hear The People Sing? which is a re-working of the famous song from Les Miserables.

Martin provided the first rendition of this song before the victory over London Wasps last weekend.

Sharks' Chief Executive Niels de Vos says the anthem captures perfectly the club's passion and spirit as they bid to be crowned champions of England.

"Sale Sharks are leading a rugby revolution here in the north west. Our once small suburban club, for so long under the shadow of the region's football clubs, has now become one of the best supported and most successful rugby teams in the land.

"Our success may be a thorn in the side of the old school blazer types within rugby union, but we thrive on that reputation. We are the coming force of English rugby, taking on and beating the old establishment clubs who have for so long dominated our domestic rugby scene.

Experience

"To have this song, sung by thousands of the club's supporters, played as the team runs out at Twickenham for the final will be one of those spine-chilling moments, and will be a truly unique experience to kick-off the biggest game in Sale Sharks history."

Meanwhile, both Lancashire and Cheshire are celebrating a return to Twickenham after the final group games of the County Championships.

Lancashire were twice saved by the referee's whistle against Yorkshire in the first-half at Cross Green as try-scoring passes to centre Chris Malherbe and winger Danny Smith were ruled to be forward.

Two penalties by fly-half Steve Nutt and an interception try by winger Jalo van der Venter put Lancashire ahead after 63 minutes and though Yorkshire pressed hard in the later stages, Lancashire's defence was solid. With Brown missing a penalty seven minutes into stoppage time, Lancashire held on to win 11-10.

Lancashire coach Mark Nelson said: "To come away and win a semi-final in Yorkshire is a great achievement but we need to improve for next week."

Cheshire made it back into the premier section when they guaranteed promotion from the County Championship Shield with a 35-8 defeat of Warwickshire at Macclesfield.

Once again the kicking skills of fly-half Simon Mason were prominent. He took his tally of consecutive successes to 20 when he converted Tom Mapp's first try, and though his run ended when his kick following Mapp's second went wide, he still finished with 15 points from a drop goal, two penalties and three conversions.

Skipper and flanker John Sewell, Mapp (2) and winger Ben Coulbeck scored Cheshire's tries.

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