The Sharks opened their Zurich Premiership campaign with 24-21 victory over highly-fancied Northampton in a thrilling encounter at Heywood Road which went right down to the wire.

Saints' Spanish winger Oriol Ripol touched down in the 80th minute following a period of sustained pressure to level the scores after his side had appeared to be heading for defeat.

But just as Wayne Smith's side thought they had done enough to earn a draw, England's second choice fly-half Charlie Hodgson rounded off a powerful forward drive four minutes into injury time with a sweetly-struck drop goal to clinch the win.

Hodgson was the star of the show for the Sharks, finishing with 21 points and showing some neat touches in open play which must have impressed England boss Clive Woodward who was watching from the stands.

The Manchester club were the more adventurous of the two sides and the fact all their points came from the boot should not detract from the threat they posed going forward.

They were given plenty of attacking options thanks to a steady steam of possession from their forwards who edged the Saints' pack in the battle up front.

But Northampton coach Wayne Smith could take heart from his side's defensive performance as the visitors held firm despite some fearsome pressure from the Sharks who, for all their efforts, failed to score a try.

Saints managed to cross, though, and it took them just 76 seconds to do it.

They surged forward from the kick-off and after several phases Paul Grayson fired a perfectly-weighted cross-field kick for England winger Ben Cohen to gather up and touch down.

Grayson added the conversion but within six minutes the Sharks had reduced the deficit courtesy of a Jos Baxendell drop goal and a Hodgson penalty.

Both teams tried to make the most of a fine evening - marred only by a slight drizzle - by attacking at every opportunity but it was the two fly-halves who kept the scoreboard ticking over, Hodgson and Grayson exchanging long-range penalties.

The Sharks pushed forward in the 20th minute after a blistering midfield run from Mel Deane but, with the Saints defence fully stretched, the centre was penalised for holding onto the ball on the ground.

And Deane was in the thick of the action moments later when he sliced through the visitors' defence with a neat sidestep only for his good work to be ruined by a sloppy pass to unmarked winger Mark Cueto with the line begging.

The Sharks scored a hatful of tries last season and on tonight's evidence it was easy to see why - they were full of invention when in possession with only errors at crucial moments stifling their attacking ambition.

Hodgson stroked over another penalty as Northampton began to falter before their opponents' quickfire plays.

Saints launched a rare foray forward in the 35th minute but even when pegged back within their own 22 the Sharks were looking to break out, escaping from danger and sweeping down the other end to win a penalty which Hodgson converted.

Northampton had the final say of the half though when they forced the Sharks to make a string of desperate tackles before the home side were penalised, gifting Grayson three points.

Seven minutes after the break, Northampton picked up some forward momentum as they rumbled up the middle of the pitch only for the maul to be brought down short of the line.

Referee Steve Leyshon ruled foul play by Sharks flanker Pete Anglesea and he was dispatched to the sin bin, resulting in a penalty which Grayson slotted over.

The numbers were evened up shortly after however when Saints prop Robbie Morris was given 10 minutes for a similar offence, with Hodgson kicking his penalty.

Substitute Chris Budgen joined his team-mate and front row colleague Morris in the sin bin when he was shown a yellow card for interfering with the ball on the floor - handing Hodgson another easy three points which stretched the Sharks' lead to 21-16.

But as the game neared its conclusion Northampton came alive with a late flurry which saw them lay siege to the home side's tryline.

They were helped by another sin-binning, this time from Sharks substitute Dan Harris, setting up the grandstand finish which went the Sharks' way.

Teams:

Sale: Robinson, Cueto, Baxendell, Deane, Hanley, Hodgson, Redpath, Yates, Titterrell, Stewart, C. Jones, Schofield, A. Sanderson, Pinkerton, Anglesea.

Not Used: Marais, Thorp, Lines, Perelini, Harris, Going, Walshe.

Pens: Hodgson 6.

Drop Goals: Baxendell, Hodgson.

Northampton: Beal, Ripol, Tucker, Jorgensen, Cohen, Grayson, Dawson, Smith, Thompson, Morris, Hunter, Williams, Blowers, Pountney, Soden.

Not Used: Richmond, Budgen, Hepher, Seely, Vass, Brooks, Sleightholme.

Tries: Cohen, Ripol.

Cons: Grayson.

Pens: Grayson 3.

Att: 5,313

Ref: Steve Leyshon (RFU).