Sale send message as Irish tamed

MARTIN JOHNSON watched on as Sale edged a ferocious encounter against Guinness Premiership leaders London Irish thanks to a try created and scored by three players hoping to catch the eye of the England manager.

Irish led 8-6 at the break at a bitterly cold Edgeley Park but excellent work from discarded fly-half Charlie Hodgson and replacement Mathew Tait allowed forgotten wing Mark Cueto to scamper clear in the 57th minute.

It was another reminder to Johnson and his coaching team of Cueto’s quality, his fourth try in his last three games continuing a recent renaissance after his desperate struggle for form and fitness in the aftermath of the 2007 World Cup.