Reigning champions Bath produced a 31-26 bonus point win over Sale in an entertaining Gallagher Prem match at the CorpAcq Stadium.
Sale scored four tries through Tom O’Flaherty, Rob du Preez, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Tom Roebuck, with George Ford claiming three conversions.
But an underpowered Bath cruised to victory with Dan Frost, Louie Hennessey, Ethan Staddon, Bernard van der Linde and Alfie Barbeary scoring five tries, with Santi Carreras converting three of them.
Sale lost twins Tom Curry and Ben Curry to injury, but Bevan Rodd, Ford, Roebuck and Cowan-Dickie are back after taking part in England’s Six Nations campaign.
They were both named in the Sharks’ starting line-up, with Nathan Jibulu deployed in the unfamiliar openside flanker position and Du Preez playing at outside center after filling in at flyhalf in Ford’s absence.
Bath produced a stunning performance in a 62-15 win over Saracens at The Rec last Friday but were given a break as Finn Russell and other big names traveled north.
Johan van Graan’s decision was made with an eye on a reunion with Sarris in the last 16 of the Investec Champions Cup next Saturday.
Sale Sharks lost twins Tom Curry and Ben Curry to injury.
However, the visitors were still able to name 11 international players for the match on 23rd and their bench was particularly strong.
Bath enjoyed early territory on a rain-soaked pitch and took the lead when Frost dived from close range for a try converted by Carreras.
Visiting winger Joe Cokanasiga was sin-binned in the 26th minute for deliberately tapping in Joe Carpenter’s pass and Sale soon scored after Du Preez’s long pass sent O’Flaherty into the corner.
Ford leveled the scores at 7-7 and Sale had their second on 32 minutes when Du Preez dived in from close range.
Ford’s second successful conversion put Sanderson’s side 14-7 ahead and Bath lost Frost to a yellow card as his side were consistently offside.
Sale punished them again with Cowan-Dickie forcing home his 44th Premiership career try and although Ford failed to convert, the hosts went into half-time with a 19-7 advantage.
Tom Roebuck scored one try on his return from international duty.
Five minutes after the break and with Frost still in the sin bin, Bath scored their second when Hennessey went over from a lineout and Carreras converted.
In the 50th minute, Staddon scored Bath’s third attempt with a cross from close range following Hennessey’s good shot from the right corner.
Carreras missed the conversion to keep the score fine at 19-19, but as the hour mark approached, Roebuck crossed from the right corner and Ford converted.
Bath scored again in the 62nd minute when substitute hooker Kepu Tuipulotu hacked downfield and cleared to score a try that Carreras converted to make it 26-26.
With nine minutes remaining, Barbeary scored to put Bath ahead and they held on for the win, taking them within a point of Prem leaders Northampton.
