CHARLIE Hodgson battled through the pain barrier to help Sale Sharks into the Guinness Premiership final.

The England pivot suffered bruised ribs following a hefty tackle by Simon Shaw midway through the first half of the Sharks' 22-12 victory over Wasps, but trudged on to score 17 match-winning points against the reigning champions at Edgeley Park.

Hodgson did not miss a kick all afternoon - he booted five penalties and converted Jason Robinson's dazzling 31st-minute try - while he also showed maturity by squeezing the life out of the Londoners in the final 20 minutes with some measured touch-finding and tactical nous.

Flanker and lynchpin Jason White - the Premiership's player of the season - also had a huge game as the Sharks weathered a difficult opening hour before controlling the final 20 minutes in the forwards as if they were play-off veterans.

Full report in this week's Express