Worcester fly-half Shane Drahm scored 17 points as the relegation-threatened Warriors recorded only their second Guinness Premiership win of the season.

Drahm outshone England hopeful Charlie Hodgson, landing four penalties, a conversion and a smart drop goal, as Sale suffered their first home loss.

Kai Horstmann scored the only try of the game early on after collecting Drahm’s cross-field kick.

And Drahm’s superb kicking stopped Sale from moving up to second in the table.

A second league win of the season against Worcester would have seen them leapfrog Bath and Leicester.

But it was not to be as a strong Sale side, including England stars Andrew Sheridan, Richard Wigglesworth and Mark Cueto, failed to sparkle without their injured talisman, New Zealander Luke McAlister.

Strugglers Worcester, who last won in January against Bristol, got off to a bad start, conceding an early penalty, with Sale number 10 Hodgson defying the weather to land the three points.

Hodgson, who again handed England boss Brian Ashton a timely reminder, was the catalyst for the Sharks’ next foray, taking advantage of a Sam Tuitupou error but his hack downfield bounced out.

An inspired Drahm sends over an excellent drop goal

Sale’s lead did not last long as Worcester skipper Drahm made an excellent break from his own 22, sidestepping the Sale pack and sprinting deep into enemy territory, before passing to Miles Benjamin who was smothered by Hodgson.

Worcester immediately regained possession and from a Drahm cross-field kick, wing Marcel Garvey challenged and Horstmann was on hand to dive over in the corner.

The ever-reliable Hodgson reduced the deficit with another penalty kick but Drahm soon made it advantage Worcester with a drop goal.

Sale’s forwards hit back with a period of consistent pressure and with referee Wayne Barnes indicating a penalty, Hodgson took advantage to land a much-needed drop goal.

Drahm restored Worcester’s advantage with another penalty just before the break as the Warriors took control.

Early in the second half, Drahm maintained his 100% kicking record with another penalty before Hodgson kept Sale in touch with an effort of his own.

Wigglesworth’s introduction after 55 minutes received the biggest cheer of the night as the newly-appointed England star looked to inspire Sale.

The Sharks’ attack was becoming static as they battled both Worcester’s stubborn defence and the elements and they clearly missed McAlister.

Hodgson kept the scoreboard ticking with another penalty to keep them within a point of the visitors but the in-form Drahm responded with another Worcester penalty.

Wigglesworth lifted Sale as he took control and almost masterminded a try - his quick break from a scrum saw Hodgson offload to Chris Bell but he could only knock on.

Drahm added another penalty to extend the Warriors’ lead on 76 minutes as Worcester sneaked home.

Llanelli Scarlets have announced that scrum-half Dwayne Peel will join Sale Sharks at the end of the season.

 Wales international Peel, 26, came through the ranks at Llanelli and has been with the Scarlets regional side since its inception in 2003.

The news comes less than a week after the Welsh Rugby Union said that players who play their club rugby outside Wales may harm their international selection.

 Peel is understood not to have yet signed a contract with the English Premiership club, despite the Scarlets announcing the deal has been done.

The scrum-half was not present at the Scarlets’ media conference on Tuesday, but the statement issued by the Scarlets quoted Peel as saying his move to the north-west of England was “not about money”.

“The deal to stay at Llanelli was similar to that offered by Sale - it’s about the fact that, not having lived outside Wales, I’d like to experience life in another country for a short period,” he said in the statement.
Scarlets chief executive Stuart Gallacher said Peel will leave Stradey Park with the club’s best wishes, and that the search to find a replacement has already begun.

“Dwayne has served us admirably through one of the club’s most thrilling decades,” said Gallacher.

“He has been a cornerstone in helping us to develop a formidable European record in that time and in keeping us highly competitive in domestic tournaments.

“We’re always pleased to see home-grown talent become international stars - and Dwayne has served Wales and the Lions with great skill and dedication.

“His departure leaves a void at Stradey Park but means that the tremendous emerging talent in Phil Davies’s squad will be given a greater chance to shine.

“We will also be looking to strengthen the squad.”

Llanelli Scarlets director of rugby Phil Davies added: “We wish Dwayne well at Sale - he has served our region extraordinarily well and is hugely popular with fans and team-mates.

“He has been outstanding for us in the Magners League and Heineken Cup and will be a credit to his new club.

“Having never been based outside Wales, this will be an exciting adventure for him.

“I believe he would like to return to Wales and we’d be delighted to talk to him in the future about him coming home to the Llanelli Scarlets.”

Peel, who has been struggling with a shoulder injury, was named in Wales’ 28-man squad for this season’s Six Nations championship on Monday.

Sale will field a weakened side in their European Challenge Cup match against Petrarca on Friday night. French international Sebastien Chabal is rested and England fly-half Charlie Hodgson will start on the bench.

Rudi Keil, Sililo Martens, Sean Cox, Lionel Faure and Nathan Bonner Evans all come into the side.

Sale would qualify for the last eight with victory against the Italian side. The Sharks have a perfect record in the competition so far

Sale punished Leicester’s lack of precision with victory in a tense Premiership encounter at Edgeley Park.

The Sharks scored through Rory Lamont in the first half, while four Charlie Hodgson penalties and one from Luke McAlister kept the champions at bay.

The Tigers also crossed with Johne Murphy before the break but Andy Goode suffered an off day with the boot.

Leicester’s lack of discipline also cost them as Sale leapfrogged the Tigers to go fourth in the league.

Sale have not lost at Edgeley Park since a 26-25 defeat against Leicester in April, while the visitors’ losing bonus point kept them fifth in the table, level on points with Harlequins.

The endeavour was high in the opening period but both sides were struggling to find any cohesion and set-piece and handling errors abounded.

Sale raced into an early lead with two Hodgson penalties before Goode slotted his first kick for the Tigers.

The Sharks thought they had clinched the first try on the half hour mark when Julien Laharrague rumbled over but the referee ruled he was held up.

From the ensuing scrum, though, Sale were awarded a penalty and the Sharks went away with another three points.

Shortly after, Goode made a promising foray into Sale’s half and was rewarded with a penalty, but pulled his kick left of the posts.

But the game exploded into life just before the break when things finally clicked for both sides.

Hodgson’s chip launched a flowing Sale attack involving former All Black McAlister, and French pair Sebastien Chabal and Sebastien Bruno before the fly-half fired a long pass out left to send wing Lamont crashing over.

Leicester followed through with their own threat almost immediately from the kick-off, when Goode broke left from a scrum in midfield and looped around Ollie Smith to find Johne Murphy who sliced over in the left corner.

The Tigers built on the momentum after the break and Goode landed a second penalty, shortly after missing with a drop-goal attempt.

Sale hit back with a spell of possession but looked set to be punished for failing to convert pressure into points when Leicester earned a penalty upfield.

Goode pointed at the sticks but pushed his kick right and Sale’s fragile three-point lead remained intact until the Tigers number 10 slotted a long penalty with 20 minutes left.

Instantly, though, the Tigers forwards gave away another penalty and Hodgson reclaimed the lead for Sale.

Tigers wing Tom Varndell went close to a try but was bundled into the corner flag as he sniffed the line and Goode hit the post with a penalty as Leicester squandered their mounting territorial advantage.

And as the end loomed, McAlister slotted a game-clinching penalty to seal Leicester’s demise.

French forward Sebastien Chabal has signed a new two-year deal with Sale.

The iconic 30-year-old, who has 37 caps and five tries for France, was Philippe Saint-Andre’s first signing when he joined the Edgeley Park club in 2004.

Chabal can play at number eight and second row and is one of the game’s most recognisable faces.

“Although he had received big money offers to go and play in France, he has committed his future to Sale,” said coach Saint-Andre.

“‘Seabass’ is a great player and is a fans’ favourite too, he always gives his best. He will play a big part in the future of Sale and we are all delighted that he has signed a new deal.”

Chabal’s new contract also includes the option of another year.

The powerful forward is a huge star in his home country and her admitted avoiding the glare of publicity was one of the reasons for him signing a new contract with Sale.

“I have enjoyed my time in England and am able to get on with playing rugby which I enjoy,” he said. “If I lived and played in France, I think my wife would go crazy with all the supporter attention I receive there.”