England marksman Charlie Hodgson kicked 21 points in a 41-16 victory to give Sale Sharks a Parker Pen Shield double over last season's runners-up Narbonne and earn the Manchester-based club a ticket into the quarter-finals.

The home side were forced to come from behind in the second half after the Frenchmen, making their second visit to the north-west of England in a week following the postponement of last Friday's fixture due to frost, had gone in front with two penalties in the last few minutes of the half.

Hodgson helped himself to five penalties and three conversions as Sale maintained their 100record in Pool Four with a fifth successive victory, opening the scoring in the game after only two minutes.

Former England wing Steve Hanley ran in two tries and fellow wing Tony Elliott grabbed another.

Sale's fourth try came from centre Martin Shaw on the stroke of full-time.

It was a burst of 23 points in a 20-minute purple patch midway through the second half which clinched victory for Sale as Hanley ran in his second try, Elliott followed him to the line two minutes later and Hodgson helped himself to two conversions and three penalties.

Sale now move on to Rome to complete their pool games at the weekend and one more victory will make a home tie in the last eight a certainty.

Teams:

Sale: Going, Hanley, Shaw, Deane, Elliott, Hodgson, Dickens, Yates, Titterrell, Black, Fullarton, Giacheri, Lines, Wilkes, Pinkerton.

Replacements: Davidson for Elliott (74), Baxendell for Hodgson (80), Bramhall for Dickens (80), Jackman for Titterrell (80), Turner for Black (74), C. Jones for Lines (77), Perelini for Wilkes (56).

Tries: Hanley 2, Elliott, Shaw.

Cons: Hodgson 3.

Pens: Hodgson 5.

Narbonne: Narbonne: Bazini, Joubert, Douy, Moraitis, Tutard, Rosalen, Bonhoure, Poux, Ledesma, Bigou, Gaston, Moore, Furet, Mathieu, Hill.

Replacements: Subra for Joubert (25), Martinez for Douy (68), Quesada for Rosalen (70), Petit for Ledesma (70), Sabardeil for Bigou (68), Allam for Gaston (71), Reynaud for Mathieu (66).

Tries: Douy.

Cons: Rosalen.

Pens: Rosalen 2.

Drop Goals: Bazini.

Att: 2,561

Ref: Paul Adams (Welsh RFU).