Premiership: Newcastle 8-16 Sale

Tom Brady's first-half try helped Sale climb to sixth in the Premiership with a rare win at Newcastle.

The hosts went ahead through Phil Godman's penalty, but Sale levelled with Danny Cipriani's successful kick.

Brady's try and Cipriani's conversation and penalty was replied to by Andy Saull going over for the home side.

After leading 13-8 at the break, Nick MacLeod's penalty ensured Sale left Newcastle with the points for only the second time in 21 matches.

Victory means Sale climb away from the relegation battle, but Newcastle still have concerns at the bottom.

Newcastle's new signing Sinoti Sinoti made an immediate impact on his debut and impressed the 4,134 crowd.

But Brady's try put Sale in the driving seat in the first half when he collected Jonny Leota's pass, with Cipriani adding the extras.

Sinoti set up the play for Newcastle's try as they opted to go for the corner with successive penalties and Saull took advantage as he drove over.

The hosts battled away in the second half but failed to get on the scoresheet and MacLeod's penalty made sure of Sale's win.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Newcastle director of rugby Dean Richards:

"We gave away a soft try which is getting to be a habit and a couple of silly penalties.

"What really let us down was our inability to play the conditions, especially in the second half, which is also becoming a habit.

"We didn't seem to know or understand how to play the conditions and if you don't learn how to use the conditions then you are going to lose games."

Sale director of rugby Steve Diamond:

"What we're after is steady improvement and keeping up our momentum, and that's what we've done with our results against London Irish and Leicester and now winning at Newcastle.

"Newcastle is a really hard place to come and win and to snatch an away victory is always good. Our second-half performance was good and our defence was dominant throughout.

"We didn't do enough with the elements in the first half, but it changed a bit in the second half and our second-half game management was what won the game for us."

FRIDAY'S LINE-UPS

Newcastle Falcons: Tait; Cato, Barnes, Powell, Sinoti; Godman, Blair; Vickers, Lawson, Brookes, del Fava, MacLeod, Wilson, Saull, Hogg (capt).

Replacements: Fury for Blair (47), Tomes for Del Fava (54), Tomaszczyk for Brookes (63), Montanella for Vickers (63), Clegg for Godman (64), Fitzpatrick for Powell (66), Mayhew for M Wilson (70), McGuigan for Lawson (78).

Sin Bin: del Fava (33).

Sale Sharks: Miller; Brady, Leota, Tuitupou, Cueto; Cipriani, Peel; Harrison, Taylor, Cobilas, Mills, Paterson; Braid (capt), Seymour, Gaskell.

Replacements: Fihaki for Gaskell (41), Jones for Taylor (48), Lewis-Roberts for Harrison (48), Ostrikov for Fihaki (63), MacLeod for Cipriani (64), Cliff for Peel (64), Thomas for Cobilas (65).

Not Used: Mackenzie.

Attendance: 4,134

Referee: Andrew Small (RFU).