SALE’S slump continued at Edgeley Park last night as they plunged to their fifth straight defeat in the Guinness Premiership, losing out to rock-bottom Worcester Warriors.

Stripped of international stars and ravaged by injury, the defending champions are in for an uncomfortable end to their season and will be grateful at least for the losing bonus point.

Warriors did their survival hopes no harm with a deserved win, while Sharks, without a try in three games, must be wondering where their next win is coming from.

And just to make matters worse for Philippe Saint-Andre’s men, Newcastle beat Saracens in the night’s other match to send them further down the Guinness Premiership table.

Sharks threw caution to the wind in the closing stages in a bid to salvage something from the game as Worcester tried to soak up some vital seconds.

Replacement scrum-half Ben Foden and new signing Julien Laharrague almost broke clear at the death but Worcester clung on for victory.

Earlier, Shane Drahm missed a simple chance to kick his side ahead from in front of the posts in the opening minute but made amends shortly after when he darted over and touched down.

Fortunately for Sale, stand-off James Brown was wide with the conversion and Sharks could have been 10 points down after just four minutes.

Play was held up when centre Mark Taylor, who is expected to be leaving the club in the summer, received treatment before being stretchered off and replaced by Chris Bell.

No sooner had play started again then there was another delay as Tevita Taumoeteau received treatment on the pitch for a head wound and was replaced by Darren Morris.

Suspension

When play resumed Daniel Larrechea, on his first game back after suspension, kicked a penalty to reduce the gap.

At the other end, Drahm failed once again with a long range effort but after a series of kicks to the corner the Warriors were finally rewarded with a try for Taumoeteau, who was back on the pitch and showing no signs of his earlier injury.

Brown converted but Sharks hit back with another Larrechea penalty after a powerful run from second row Dean Schofield.

The Frenchman then launched a series of quick breaks for Sale but the visitors defence proved equal to it.

On the stroke of half-time, Larrechea reduced the gap to three points with another well struck penalty.

Larrechea had a chance to level the scores within minutes of the restart but his penalty drifted wide while at the other end Brown made no mistake with two penalties in quick succession to put his side nine points clear.

Sale piled on the pressure with a series of forward drives and Larrechea was on hand to hit the target with a drop goal after 62 minutes.

The home side were far from finished as they took the game to Worcester, roared on by a packed Edgeley Park crowd, but there was still no way through as their slump continued.

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