Even the presence of Lawrence Dallaglio could not save Wasps from a 27-22 defeat at the hands of Sale.

Dallaglio came on in the second half after a long-term knee injury - which will have pleased England boss Clive Woodward.

But Woodward will not have been happy to see Jason Robinson hobble off the field and Charlie Hodgson struggle with a bad ankle.

Fly-half Hodgson took just five minutes to record his 500th point for Sale in just 18 months with a penalty and extended the lead with another effort five minutes later.

His opposite number Alex King levelled the scores with two kicks of his own before persistent pressure from the home side paid off with a try for winger Mark Cueto which Hodgson converted.

Sale looked to have things under control but Wasps rallied and pulled level once again when centre Fraser Waters ran clear and King converted.

King then posted two more penalties in the last two minutes of the half to put Wasps ahead.

After the break Sale turned up the heat and pushed Wasps all over the park before prop Stuart Turner was driven over for Hodgson to convert and give Sale a one-point lead.

Wasps battled on and reclaimed the lead with a drop goal from King shortly after Sale had been reduced to 14 men when Iain Fullerton was sin-binned.

The visitors' Robinson was forced off through injury and at the same time another British Lion took to the field in the form of Dallaglio.

Then it was Wasps turn to go a man down when hooker Trevor Leota was shown the yellow card.

Sale used the extra man to their advantage when winger Anthony Elliott scored out wide which Hodgson - despite a bad angle - converted.