Sale Sharks have made a return to winning ways in the Aviva Premiership with a comfortable 36-8 victory at home to London Irish.

Chris Noakes gave the visitors an early lead with a penalty, but Danny Cipriani added the extras to a David Seymour try on 10 minutes to put the Sharks in front.

Sale then turned the screw as another three points from the boot of Cipriani and a score from Daniel Braid made it 15-3 with five minutes remaining in the first half.

It got better for the hosts on the stroke of half time when a penalty try was converted by Cipriani to give them a commanding advantage at the break.

Sale were awarded a second penalty try at the start of the second period which Cipriani converted, but London Irish restored some pride with 10 minutes left when George Skivington touched down.

However, it was the Sharks who had the final say as Nick Macleod kicked over following an Andy Forsyth try with five minutes to go.