Sale claim Worcester scalp

Sale took a step closer to the quarter-finals of the Amlin Challenge Cup with victory over Worcester but the game was marred by a serious-looking injury to Warriors' fly-half Paul Warwick.

Dwayne Peel, Sam Tuitupou and Jonathan Mills all crossed as Sharks claimed an impressive 21-3 win at the AJ Bell Stadium.

Victory saw Sale move five points clear at the top of Pool 1 but their failure to clinch a bonus point has opened the door for Biarritz to draw level when they play on Saturday.

However, there was concern for Warriors number 10 Warwick who was carried away on a stretcher midway through the second half after play was stopped for 10 minutes as he received treatment by medical personnel..

There was no immediate news on Warwick's condition.

Sale made a bright start, marked by James Gaskell's break, only for Danny Cipriani to knock-on in sight of the line.

Cipriani recovered to kick the opening points on nine minutes before Peel started and finished the attack, involving Mark Cueto and Gaskell, for the game's opening try.

Cipriani missed the conversion but exchanged penalties with Warwick, after Worcester's scrum took one against the head, as Sale held on to lead 11-3 at half-time despite good work from Warriors pair Josh Watkins and Richard de Carpentier.

Former British and Irish Lions scrum-half Peel again proved the catalyst when he sent Jonathan Mills over just three minutes into the second half, though Cipriani again missed the conversion.

Peel then spotted an opening after capitalising on a strike against the head by his scrum and Tuitupou stretched out to score on the hour. Nick MacLeod failed to convert.

Following the stoppage for Warwick's injury, Gaskell went close before Sale ended the match with 14 men after Tuitupou was binned for deliberately knocking down the ball.

All this after Sale Sharks announcing the appointment of former Scottish Rugby Union chief executive Gordon McKie as club chairman.

McKie, who spent six years at the SRU before being appointed chief executive of the Hong Kong Football Association, takes the role with immediate effect.

"I have known Gordon for several years and I believe he is the man to chair the club at this stage," Sale owner Brian Kennedy said.

"He is highly respected within the game of rugby union and his commercial, organisation and administration experience will be of great benefit to the club."

McKie added: "I am pleased to take on this new challenge at this stage in my career and become involved again with sport.

"In my capacity as chairman, I look forward to working with the board and supporting the management team, the staff and the loyal supporters in contributing to the future success of the club."

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Bath, meanwhile, remain four points clear in Pool 2 despite Bordeaux-Begles claiming their biggest European victory for more than 12 years with a 10-try win over Rugby Mogliano.

Centre Thibault Lacroix and full-back Joaqim Tuculet both crossed twice as the French side brushed aside the Italians at Stade Andre Moga 64-7.

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