By COLIN NEWBOULT

Talisman: Faf de Klerk takes on Steve Luatua and Aly Muldowney
PICTURES: Getty Images

Teak tough defence: Rob Webber tackles Bristol’s Chris Vui

IT was not pretty but these are the wins that will keep Sale up, or perhaps, in the craziest of Premiership seasons, propel them into the top six.
That is how tight it is, with little separating the teams from third to 12th. Even this victory for the Sharks, a result that took them to eighth, does not ease relegation concerns.
They reside just five points above Newcastle and a victory for the Falcons over Gloucester ...