HEINEKEN CUP ROUND-UP: JAMES GASKELL further enhanced his fast-growing reputation with a virtuoso performance to help Sale to a 27-26 victory over Pool Five rivals Cardiff.
The 19-year-old lock from Sandbach, who stands 6ft 7in, created a try for skipper Dean Schofield in the 37th minute with a fine run and then went over himself shortly after the restart as Sale responded in style to last week’s thumping defeat in Toulouse.
Fijian flanker Sisa Koyamaibole got the ball rolling with their first try in the 33rd minute.
Cardiff, who won their opening match against Harlequins last weekend, hit back through Andy Powell in the 50th minute and Robin Sowden-Taylor then pounced on a loose ball for their second try in the 79th minute.
Ben Blair converted to cut the gap to one point, but Sale held on to keep alive their hopes of progressing to the knock-out stages.
In Pool Two, Newport Gwent Dragons kept their hopes of making progress alive with a deserved 22-14 win over Glasgow.
The defeat ensured that Glasgow have no realistic chance of qualification for the knock-out stages.
Three tries before the interval gave the Dragons a healthy half-time lead as their backs produced their best performance for some time.
The Dragons took the lead after 12 minutes. They neglected to take a kick at goal and found a touch on the Warriors goal-line. Possession was secured and Adam Jones was driven over for the try which Arlidge converted.
The Scots were dealt a further blow when Chris Cusiter, only recently returned from a three-week absence with a flu bug, left the field with an ankle injury.
Against the run of play the Warriors levelled the scores when they produced an excellent flowing movement which ended when John Beattie strolled through a huge gap in the home defence for a try under the posts which Parks converted. But that success was tempered by the loss of Beattie to the sin bin soon afterwards for trampling on an opponent.
The Dragons took immediate advantage with Arlidge dropping a goal to give them a 10-7 lead.
Just before half-time the Dragons produced two quality tries. Firstly the Warriors ball was turned over on halfway and the Dragons moved the ball skilfully for Luke Charteris to crash over.
From the restart Glasgow pressed but the Dragons broke away through good work from Brew and Rhodri Gomer-Davies, to set up a ruck on halfway.
Wayne Evans, the scrumhalf, was alert enough to put in a kick to the blindside for Martyn Thomas to outpace the defence, collect and score. Arlidge converted the try to make it 22-7 at the interval.
Dragons flanker Dan Lydiate was yellow-carded after 45 minutes for an illegal tackle and the hosts conceded a try just before his return when replacement Kevin Tkachuk barged his way over. Parks converted with a superb kick from the touchline.
