Devastating Cueto runs in three to prove his worth to Woodward

Sale 59 - Connacht 9

Mark Cueto dealt with his disappointment at being left out of the British Lions squad in the best possible way by scoring a sparkling hat-trick of tries as Sale demolished Connacht in this semi-final, second leg, at Edgeley Park yesterday.

Mark Cueto dealt with his disappointment at being left out of the British Lions squad in the best possible way by scoring a sparkling hat-trick of tries as Sale demolished Connacht in this semi-final, second leg, at Edgeley Park yesterday.

Philippe Saint-André, Sale's director of rugby, said: "Mark was very down after he was overlooked, but his attitude has been great. I told him to show everyone that he is the best wing in Europe. Today he went someway towards that."

Charlie Hodgson contributed 24 points, converting six of Sale's tries, scoring one himself, and slotting three penalties.

In the first quarter Connacht's No 10 Paul Warwick kicked two penalties, as did Hodgson, who then scored the opening try. Jason Robinson dropped his third goal of the season, and though Mark McHugh banged over a long penalty, Sale were pulling away.

Whatever Connacht tried, Sale did it faster and half-time was reached with Sale up 31-9. It would have required something very special for Connacht to have fought back from there. It proved to be beyond them and Sale will play Pau in the final at Oxford's Kassam Stadium in four weeks.

Sale: Tries Hodgson, Titterrell, Hanley, Cueto 3, White. Conversions Hodgson 6. Penalties Hodgson 3. Drop goal Robinson. Connacht: Penalties Warwick 2, McHugh.

Sale: J Robinson (capt); M Cueto, J Baxendell, R Todd (C Rhys Jones, 58), S Hanley; C Hodgson (R Wigglesworth, 64), B Redpath (S Martens, 64); A Sheridan (B Coutts, h-t), A Titterrell (S Bruno, 66), B Coutts (B Stewart, 35), I Fernandez Lobbe, D Schofield (P Anglesea, 55), J White, C Jones, S Chabal (M Lund, 50).

Connacht: M Mostyn; C McPhillips, M McHugh (E Elwood, 54), J Downey, T Robinson (D Slemen, 54); P Warwick, C Keane (M Walls, 55); R Hogan, B Jackman, P Bracken (S Knoop, 54), C Short, A Farley (capt), M Swift (P Neville, 71), B O'Connor, J O'Sullivan (M Carroll, 71).

Referee: R Dickson (Scotland).