England wing Tom Roebuck scored two tries as Sale secured a breathtaking 31-27 bonus point win over Gloucester in the Gallagher Premiership.
The 23-year-old, who was named early in Steve Borthwick’s England training squad, struck either side of half-time as the Sharks bounced back from last week’s defeat to Saracens.
England team-mate Luke Cowan-Dickie also crossed twice in Sale’s five-try show as they thwarted a late surge from Gloucester.
Gloucester, who lost last week’s hat-trick hero Christian Wade to a rib injury in the first half, scored two bonus points through Max Llewelyn’s try in the 78th minute of the second half, but was unable to break through the Sale defense in extra time.
Sale led 14-8 at half-time and came from behind after Tomos Williams gave Gloucester the lead with a six-minute try.
Roebuck, who made his first England cap for England from the bench against Japan in June, opened for sale 11 minutes later, latching onto Robert du Friez’s pass and sliding into the right corner.
Roebuck turned provider four minutes before the break, threading a ball inside from Du Preez to force a try wide of scrum-half Gus Warr.
Roebuck crossed again in the 48th minute after Arron Reed had broken the Gloucester defense with a bent run from midfield.
Gloucester had an attempted breakaway inside their own half just before the hour mark when Williams grabbed his second after hacking in substitute Charlie Atkinson’s kick.
Sale struck in the 64th minute when Cowan-Dickie’s lineout drive rang home from 15 meters out, and he put it over again just seven minutes later.
Substitute Caolan Englefield scored a third try for Gloucester late on and they added a fourth from left wing Llewellyn but ran out of time.
Northampton secured a thrilling come-from-behind win against Quins.
Ollie Sleightholme, the top try scorer in the Gallagher Premiership last season, has performed well this campaign with two tries in Northampton’s 33-29 comeback win over Harlequins.
In a thrilling clash, two tries from Quins and England star Marcus Smith at full-back threatened the Saints’ one-year unbeaten home record.
But the defending champions’ 21 unanswered points during the second half – errors were rife before the break – sealed their 17th straight win at Franklins Gardens.
Harlequins ensured a tense finish when Will Porter rallied a wild offload from Dino Lamb to close the gap to four points with seven minutes remaining, but the champions were able to secure back-to-back wins.
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