Ben Foden scored the only try of the game for Sale

Sale (9) 22
Try: Foden
Con: Hodgson
Pens: Hodgson 4
Drop-goal: Hodgson

Gloucester (6) 16
Try: Pen try
Cons: Walker
Pens: Walker 3

Charlie Hodgson kicked 17 points as Sale defeated Guinness Premiership leaders Gloucester at Edgeley Park.

Hodgson sent over four penalties, a conversion and a drop-goal as Sale secured their position in the top four.

The game had been tight at the break with Sale leading 9-6 before Hodgson's drop-goal and a cracking try from Ben Foden gave them a comfortable lead.

But Gloucester claimed a vital bonus point after being awarded a penalty try for scrum infringement in injury time.

• Sale director of rugby Philippe Saint Andre:

"Charlie was the man of the match tonight - good in attack and good in defence.

"He missed just one kick but he kicked three very difficult ones and I must say thank you to England for giving us Charlie back.

"I'm sorry because he played 10 minutes for England against Scotland and he did nothing wrong.

"But at Sale we had a smile on our face when the squad was announced and Ashton didn't pick Charlie. It's a shame for him but fantastic for the squad and for the club."

• Gloucester head coach Dean Ryan:

"He (Charlie Hodgson) is a world-class player and his tactical kicking was very clever.

"But I think at a period like this, when so many of our players are missing, that we have to be happy with a bonus point."

Sale: Foden, Sevealai'i, McAlister, Bell, Ripol, Hodgson, Martens, Faure, Bruno, Turner, C. Fernandez Lobbe, Cox, C. Jones, J. Fernandez Lobbe, Chabal.
Replacements: Mayor for Sevealai'i (72), Thomas for McAlister (75), Cliff for Martens (51), Roberts for Faure (56), Briggs for Bruno (52), Lund for C. Fernandez Lobbe (55), Schofield for Chabal (70).

Sin Bin: C. Jones (80).

Gloucester: Bailey, Sharples, Lloyd, Allen, Foster, Walker, Cooper, Wood, Titterrell, Forster, Tuohy, W. James, Buxton, Hazell, Qera.
Replacements: Lamb for Sharples (53), Trinder for Lloyd (64), Prendergast for Cooper (64), Califano for Wood (75), Paul for Titterrell (66), Pendelbury for Tuohy (75), Narraway for Qera (57).

Sin Bin: Tuohy (47).

Att: 9,266

Ref: David Pearson (RFU).