Superbly-worked tries from Perry Humphreys and Ashley Beck in the space of four second half minutes gave Warriors a hard-earned win in a match that was overshadowed by the sending off of Sale lock Jean-Luc du Preez.
The South African got his marching orders on the stroke of half-time for a shoulder barge to the face of Graham Kitchener and it proved a pivotal moment.
It allowed Duncan Weir to kick a penalty and reduce the deficit to four points and meant Sale had to play the entire second half a man down.
Warriors easily unpicked Sale’s lineout in the second period but still had to battle hard for victory against tenacious opposition who were in with a chance of a share of the spoils until the final whistle.
But Warriors again showed tremendous character to battle through for another win, a third in five matches in a solid start to the Gallagher Premiership season.
Warriors dominated the opening exchanges but it was Sale who took the lead very much against the run of play with an opportunist interception try after 15 minutes.
The World Cup winner snaffled a pass close to halfway and managed to beat of a despairing challenge from Duncan Weir to dot down.
AJ MacGinty missed a kickable conversion and Weir soon reduced the deficit to two points when he slotted a penalty after Sale went offside under pressure.
Warriors continued to work themselves into promising positions only to lose possession and it was Sale who extended their lead with another try just before the break when former England wing Chris Ashton latched onto a deft grubber kick.
MacGinty’s conversion from the touchline fell short which kept Warriors within striking range and the game shifted decisively in the final minute of the half.
Sale were trying to run down the clock when lock du Preez shoulder barged Kitchener in the face.
Referee Luke Pearce consulted TMO Graham Hughes and immediately gave du Preez a red card and Warriors had the bonus of a penalty which Weir kicked to reduce the deficit to four points.
Du Preez’s departure proved the turning point and Warriors capitalised. Their patience was rewarded when Humphreys scythed trough, with a lovely inside pass from Ryan Mills giving him space.
Chris Pennell then sliced open Sale’s defence with a long run from defence which was intelligently supported by Beck who went over for his maiden Premiership try with Weir again converting.
MacGinty eventually found the target with a penalty 11 minutes from time but Warriors finished strongly and were unlucky not to get a third try when Mills dummied his over only for the score to be chalked off for obstruction in the build-up,
Warriors | 15 Chris Pennell, 14 Perry Humphreys, 13 Francois Venter (Mills 41), 12 Ashley Beck, 11 Melani Nanai, 10 Duncan Weir (Lance 73), 9 Francois Hougaard (Heaney 71), 1 Ethan Waller (Black 65), 2 Niall Annett (C) (Moulds 65), 3 Nick Schonert (Palframan 51), 4 Anton Bresler, 5 Graham Kitchener (Fatialofa 56), 6 Ted Hill, 7 Sam Lewis, 8 Cornell du Preez (van Velze 65).
Replacements | 16 Matt Moulds, 17 Callum Black, 18 Richard Palframan, 19 Michael Fatialofa, 20 GJ van Velze, 21 Michael Heaney, 22 Jono Lance, 23 Ryan Mills.
Timeline
15m | de Klerk try 0-5
23m | Weir pen 3-5
37m | Ashton try 3-10
40m | Weir pen 6-10
55m | Humphreys try 11-10
56m | Weir con 13-10
59m | Beck try 18-10
60m | Weir con 20-10
69m | MacGinty pen 20-13