Sale Sharks secured a place in the Gallagher Premiership play-offs after beating Bristol Bears 36-20 at Ashton Gate, need one more win – they visit Gloucester next weekend, then host Newcastle on May 6 – to book a home tie in the knockout phase.
The Bears, who saw prop Ellis Genge yellow-carded following a high tackle on Sale flanker and England team-mate Tom Curry, are now effectively out of the play-off race.
George Ford was the architect of Sale’s impressive win, kicking four penalties, a drop-goal and three conversions for a 21-point haul.
Skipper Ben Curry, lock Jean-Luc du Preez and scrum-half Gus Warr scored tries for Sale, while Bristol replied with touchdowns from wings Siva Naulago and Gabriel Ibitoye, a penalty and two conversions by former Sharks fly-half AJ MacGinty, plus a James Williams penalty.
But the home side were never seriously in the hunt once Sale moved 13 points clear just after half-time, and a semi-final at the AJ Bell Stadium next month is now within touching distance.
Scrum-half Harry Randall made his 100th Bristol appearance, while Joe Jenkins replaced injured centre Semi Radradra and there were recalls for lock Joe Batley and number eight Magnus Bradbury.
England flanker Tom Curry recovered from a hamstring injury to take his place in the Sale back-row alongside brother Ben and number eight Jono Ross, with prop Simon McIntyre taking over from Bevan Rodd.
Ford kicked Sale into a fourth-minute lead through a penalty from just inside Bristol’s half, but the home side quickly drew level following a spell of pressure when MacGinty landed a short-range penalty.
Bristol offered an attacking threat, although clear-cut chances were few and far between during the opening quarter, and a second 48-metre penalty from Ford made it 6-3 as Sale’s scrum showed signs of getting on top.
Ford completed a penalty hat-trick after he was tackled late by Bristol flanker Fitz Harding, yet Sale indiscipline allowed Williams a long-range chance that he accepted as the goalkicking fest continued.
A Ford drop-goal made it 12-6 before Sharks’ England centre Manu Tuilagi broke clear and freed wing Tom O’Flaherty, but Bristol number eight Bradbury’s superb cover-tackle prevented a certain try.
Sale, though, only had to wait another two minutes to breach Bristol’s defence when a missed tackle by prop Max Lahiff gave Ben Curry a free run, with his try being converted by Ford.
It was a soft score for Bristol to concede, but they ended the half deep in Sale territory and clawed their way back through a well-worked try for Naulago that was created by MacGinty’s inch-perfect kick.
MacGinty converted from the touchline, and Bristol had narrowed their deficit to six points at the interval.
Sale began the second period in concerted fashion, and Ross’ fine approach work opened up enough space for Du Preez to crash over, with Ford adding the extras.
Another Ford penalty gave Sale more breathing space, and their cause was helped when referee Luke Pearce sent to Genge to the sin-bin after he caught Curry high with his left shoulder.
Sale were in no mood to shut up shop, and Warr added a third try when he sprinted clear of a stretched Bristol defence 11 minutes from time, with an immaculate Ford again converting.
