Gloucester gave under-pressure coach Philippe Saint-Andre some breathing space with a ruthless second half performance which sent Sale crashing to a 44-21 defeat, their first of the season.

Saint-Andre's fellow Frenchman Ludovic Mercier was the chief architect of the Sharks' destruction courtesy of a clinical kicking display which saw him finish the game with a 24-point haul.

The second half was a stark contrast to the first, which had finished all square at 14-14 with no sign of the points charge that Gloucester were about to launch after the break.

Sale enjoyed an equal share of the play before the interval, touching down through Jason Robinson in reply to a Trevor Woodman try.

But the visitors pack took full control after half-time, stifling the Sharks and forcing their opponents forward onto the back foot.

Dimitri Yachvili, Terry Famolua and Federico Pucciariello all ran in tries with a solitary Jos Baxendell five-pointer the only reply from shell-shocked Sale.

The strength of the visitors' pack began to tell as early as the seventh minute following an exchange of penalties between Mercier and his opposite number Charlie Hodgson.

Some crisp work at the line-out saw Gloucester's forwards steamroll their way up the middle of the pitch.

The ball was released to Mercier who had set himself up for a drop goal but his attempted kick sailed wide of the upright, although he was on target with a second penalty moments later.

Sale launched a blistering counter-attack started by full-back Robinson and quick hands from Hodgson saw centre Dan Harris charge upfield, before he off-loaded to skipper Alex Sanderson.

But the referee deemed Sanderson had been hauled back illegally by Mercier and awarded a penalty which Hodgson slotted over. Mercier was given 10 minutes in the sin bin.

Gloucester struck back in the 20th minute when their forwards laid siege to Sale's line and just as it appeared the Manchester outfit had done enough to weather the storm, prop Woodman was bundled over with some help from his team-mates.

The try seemed to galvanise Saint-Andre's men who went straight back on the offensive, picking up another Mercier drop goal for their efforts.

But they could not maintain the pressure and by the 36th minute the Sharks had pulled themselves level when Robinson capitalised on a superb Hodgson break to touch down, with Hodgson adding another penalty - which saw Gloucester full back Christian Stoica sin-binned - shortly after.

Mercier missed the chance to put his side ahead just seconds after the interval but his penalty drifted wide, although he made amends in the 45th minute with an easy three-pointer.

Gloucester continued to attack and they swept deep into the Sharks half courtesy of some fine work from their pack.

Mercier pushed his ensuing drop goal wide, ending the move, but his side got a second bite of the cherry when Sale winger Martin Shaw saw his pass intercepted by scrum-half Yachvili who touched down under the posts for a simple converted try.

Gloucester's lead was further increased by a Mercier drop goal before the Sharks finally launched an attack of their own, but Robinson and hooker Andy Pitterall were snuffed out by some watertight defence.

The boot of Mercier continued to put daylight between the two sides as he struck a third drop goal in the 66th minute.

And Sale's woes continued when centre Famolua bundled over from close range after a neat pass from winger Josh Frape.

With three minutes to go, Baxendell grabbed his late try before Gloucester restored their hefty points cushion through a Pucciariello touchdown, a score Mercier inevitably converted in the last kick of the game.

Teams:

Sale: Yates, Titterrell, Turner, Fullarton, Lines, Pinkerton, A. Sanderson, Anglesea, Anglesea, Bramhall, Hodgson, Hanley, Harris, Shaw, Davidson, Robinson, Perelini.

Replacements: Black for Yates (73), Jackman for Titterrell (72), Giacheri for Lines (53), Perelini for Anglesea (18), Perelini for Anglesea (66), Baxendell for Shaw (66), Going for Davidson (66), Anglesea for Perelini (25).

Not Used: Dickens.

Tries: Robinson, Baxendell.

Cons: Hodgson.

Pens: Hodgson 3.

Gloucester: Woodman, Azam, Collazo, Fidler, Pearce, Boer, Eustace, Paramore, Yachvili, Mercier, Simpson-Daniel, Fanolua, Ewens, O'Leary, Stoica.

Replacements: Fortey for Azam (44), Pucciarello for Collazo (61), Cornwell for Pearce (52), Forrester for Paramore (71), Gomarsall for Yachvili (72), Frape for Simpson-Daniel (40), Simpson-Daniel for Stoica (80).

Not Used: Mannix.

Sin Bin: Mercier (11), Stoica (36).

Tries: Woodman, Yachvili, Fanolua, Pucciarello.

Cons: Mercier 3.

Pens: Mercier 3.

Drop Goals: Mercier 3.

Att: 4,562

Ref: Ashley Rowden (RFU).