Sale on Friday celebrated the end of an exciting three days at Heywood Road as they moved into third in the Zurich Premiership with a 23-3 victory over struggling Saracens.

On Wednesday club captain and influential scrum-half Bryan Redpath snubbed interest from newly-crowned champions Leicester to sign a new two-year deal with the Sharks.

Mark Cueto, Andy Titterrell and coach Jim Mallinder then followed the example of the Scotland skipper as Sale secured the services of their key men for what looks increasingly like a Heineken Cup campaign next season.

The visitors, by no means clear of the relegation scrap with only a five-point cushion over bottom side Leeds, have been in the transfer market themselves while the imminent return of Thomas Castaignede before the season's end ought to bring some much needed spark.

Not that they offered little on Friday evening, just that it came in flashes as they failed to mount any serious pressure. And when they had Sale on the defensive, the extra work done by Mallinder and his staff after last week's extraordinary 53-47 win over Bristol paid off.

Saracens did have to contend with the loss of Tim Horan with a fractured rib after only 12 minutes - the former Australia international is out for the remainder of the season - but his replacement Tom Shanklin was one of Saracens' brighter figures.

The injury occurred during an opening quarter of an hour in which Sale were relentless in their pressure but scrappy in their finishing.

Charlie Hodgson and Cueto each threatened to break through as Saracens were pinned in their own half.

Blind-side flanker Chris Jones turned in an impressive performance and twice threatened to carve Saracens.

His first break was the result of a nifty reverse pass from Hodgson, who finished the game with 13 points from another impressive display.

Despite their early pressure Sale continually failed to find the killer finish as loose passes and dropped balls scuppered their chances.

In the end, Hodgson slotted over a simple penalty to open the scoring but it was scant reward for such a period of domination.

Shanklin then crossed the Sale line in a rare foray into opposition territory only for referee Chris White to disallow the score for a double movement.

He also denied Sale a try in first-half injury time after Adam Black had barged over but was adjudged to have been held up following another scintillating break form Jason Robinson.

Minutes earlier he had sliced through the Saracens defence to send Alex Sanderson clear, only for the number eight to fumble as another chance went begging and Sale had to settle for a third Hodgson penalty.

Saracens pushed and probed in the early minutes of the second half but their fine spadework was undone when a telegraphed pass from Nick Walshe was intercepted by Cueto and the England A winger won the 80-metre race to the line.

Hodgson converted as Sale opened a 16-point lead and though Kevin Sorrell landed a penalty for Saracens, the Londoners were soon on the defensive again.

Camped on their own line as much a result of their own mistakes as Sale's pressure, Saracens were breached a second time as substitute Peter Anglesea crossed following a scrum.

Hodgson's conversion made it 23-3 and Sale knew two further tries would earn a bonus point and second place in the table.

But Saracens refused to roll over and kept Sale on the back foot, denying them the crucial bonus point despite Robinson's best efforts.

Teams:

Sale: Robinson, Cueto, Shaw, Deane, Hanley, Hodgson, Redpath, Yates, Titterrell, Black, Fullarton, Giacheri, C. Jones, Pinkerton, A. Sanderson.

Replacements: Redpath for Cueto (69), Harris for Deane (54), Dickens for Redpath (66), C. Marais for Titterrell (43), Stewart for Black (54), Anglesea for Giacheri (51).

Not Used: Wilks, Perelini.

Tries: Cueto, Anglesea.

Cons: Hodgson 2.

Pens: Hodgson 3. Sale:

Saracens: Winnan, Johnston, Sorrell, Horan, O'Mahony, Smith, Walshe, Russell, Cairns, Blackman, A. Benazzi, Murray, Chesney, Roques, Hill, Durant.

Replacements: Shanklin for Horan (36), Murray for Smith (41), Durant for Cairns (58), Russel for Hill (49), Halsey for Durant (70).

Not Used: Roche, Hampson, Sparg.

Pens: Sorrell.

Att: 3,947

Ref: Chris White (RFU).