Bath clean up Sale Sharks

In a first period of end-to-end action, it was Bath who took the early lead as Matt Banahan crossed over the whitewash to become the first player in blue, black and white to score 50 Premiership tries.

Ford ensured Bath would take a comfortable lead into the second-half with an inspired performance from the tee, one that was sure to attract the attention of an on-looking Eddie Jones in the crowd.

But the Sharks could find no answer in the second half as scores from Kahn Fotuali'i and Kane Palma-Newport put the game out of their reach in front of a record crowd at the Rec, to ensure Bath head into the European break in fine form.

It took just three minutes for the hosts to break the deadlock through Banahan as he crashed over in the corner from five metres following a flowing move from the centre before Ford buried the conversion.

It didn't take long, however, for Sale to get some points on the board. Will Addison kicking a penalty from the tee after Bath were penalised for offside.

Bath looked to be heading for their second try 10 minutes before the break when Kahn Fotuali'i stole the ball in the hosts' own half, gifting the ball to Jonathan Joseph who stormed up the left wing, only to run out of steam some way from the line.

Todd Blackadder's men wasted no time in boosting their tally, Ford adding three more points from the tee following a Sale knock-on to restore Bath's lead to seven going into the interval.

Ford continued his fine kicking form into the second half, opening up a 10-point gap in the scoreline with a penalty from 37 metres.

Addison had an immediate opportunity to reduce the deficit when Bath's Tom Dunn was penalised for not rolling away from the scrum but he steered his effort wide of the posts, much to the delight of the Rec faithful.

It was a missed chance the Sharks would later come to rue as Ford made it four from four from the tee with the easiest of penalties after Aulika's late challenge on Dave Attwood gave the referee no option.

And from there the Bath rampage began, scrumhalf Fotuali'i scoring his first try in Bath colours after intercepting the ball in his own half and strolling over the line. Just minutes later, the hosts hit the 30-point mark as Palma-Newport threw a cheeky sidestep before placing the ball down for Bath's third try of the encounter.

Bath continued to push for the bonus point as the clock continued to wind down but it didn't matter as they sealed a fine victory, ensuring they continue to snap on the heels of Saracens and Wasps at the top of the pile.

Scorers:

For Bath:

Tries: Banahan, Fotuali'i, Palma-Newport

Cons: Ford 3

Pens: Ford 3

For Sale Sharks:

Pen: Addison

Yellow card: Johnny Leota (Sale Sharks, 80)

Teams:

Bath: 15 Tom Homer, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Matt Banahan, 11 Aled Brew, 10 George Ford (co-captain), 9 Kahn Fotuali'i, 8 Zach Mercer, 7 Tom Ellis, 6 Matt Garvey (co-captain), 5 Dave Attwood, 4 Elliott Stooke, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Tom Dunn, 1 Nathan Catt

Replacements: 16 Ross Batty, 17 Nick Auterac, 18 Kane Palma-Newport, 19 Charlie Ewels, 20 Guy Mercer, 21 Chris Cook, 22 Adam Hastings, 23 Jeff Williams

Sale Sharks:15 Byron McGuigan, 14 Will Addison, 13 Sam James, 12 Johnny Leota, 11 Paolo Odogwu, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Josh Beaumont (captain), 7 David Seymour, 6 Cameron Neild, 5 Jonathan Mills, 4 Bryn Evans, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Neil Briggs, 1 Eifion Lewis-Roberts

Replacements: 16 Ross Harrison, 17 Halani Aulika, 18 Andrei Ostrikov, 19 Magnus Lund, 20 Laurence Pearce, 21 James Mitchell, 22 Dan Mugford, 23 Mike Haley

Referee: Tom Foley

Assistant referees: Paul Dix, Jonathan Healy

TMO: Stuart Terheege