IN THE days when rugby players drank, Sale would have celebrated this victory long into the night. At least yesterday’s clean-living professionals will be able to remember their Heineken Cup heroics at Clermont Auvergne when they wake up this morning.

They might have to pinch themselves to confirm that it did really happen but, yes, the Sharks led from start to finish, surviving an early French onslaught before burying Clermont under an avalanche of four brilliantly crafted tries.

Philippe Saint-Andre, the Sharks director of rugby and Clermont legend during his playing days, got his brave team selection spot-on, starting with Dwayne Peel at scrum-half and leaving Charlie Hodgson on the bench in favour of Richard Wigglesworth, another scrum-half, who had a superb game in the No 10 shirt.

It was an amazing team effort by Sale but the real star of the show was Luke McAlister at inside-centre. He stamped his class all over this match. It was the dream of days like this that tempted McAlister to relinquish his coveted All Blacks shirt and how the New Zealander lived the dream. He kicked two penalties, converted three tries and scored one himself.

True, Clermont were without Aurelien Rougerie, their injured skipper who was joint top try-scorer in the Heineken Cup last season with five touchdowns. But Sale were missing one of their own flyers in the hamstrung Mathew Tait and, more importantly, Andrew Sheridan, their talismanic strongman. In Sheridan’s absence, Lionel Faure, Neil Briggs, Eifion Roberts and, latterly, Stuart Turner, performed wonders in the front row.

Don’t think for one moment that this was one of those days when a French team failed to turn up for the party. Perhaps they misjudged the grit of their opponents but Clermont went at it full-on from first whistle to last. Against a team that averaged three tries a game last season, it speaks volumes for Sale that they kept their line intact.

Clermont were a constant danger, relying on their running game rather than putting boot to ball. They scrummaged powerfully and made valuable yardage at every tackle, pumping legs, rolling, scrambling and crawling across the gain-line. But Sale’s brave, aggressive defence forced them to concede knock-ons and turnovers.

For all their adventurous running and neat interchanges around the breakdown, all the home side had to show were five penalties by Brock James, their Australian fly-half.

As for Sale’s touchdowns, all four were scores to savour, even though Clermont were guilty of lacking Sebastien Chabal's ferocity in the tackle. The first came in the 20th minute, sparked by an electric break by Peel. With defenders closing him down, Peel offloaded to Juan Fernandez Lobbe, who contemptuously brushed off the first tackle, hit the accelerator and, as Pierre Mignoni closed in, Sale’s Argentinian flanker sent David Doherty over in the corner. McAlister landed the touchline conversion to put Sale 13-0 ahead.

Brock closed the gap to 13-6 by half-time and 13-9 soon after but Sale kept their composure and it was cool hand Luke who scored next. Chabal picked off a badly aimed Clermont lineout throw and Hodgson, on for the injured Peel, fed McAlister. Rory Lamont was on the Kiwi’s shoulder, span out of Julien Malzieu’s tackle and passed back to the supporting McAlister, who converted his try.

Another Luke set up the next try; Abraham. Sale’s turbo-charged openside made a tackle, was first to his feet, stole the ball and smuggled it back between his legs to McAlister, who sent Rudi Keil over. That gave Sale the breathing space to relax and they secured the bonus point when Hodgson and Lamont combined to send Mark Cueto over.

This was a pool that few outside the northwest believed the Sharks would survive. Now, without the hangovers, they will turn their attention to the visit of Munster, the European champions, next Sunday.

Star man: Luke McAlister (Sale Sharks)

Referee: A Lewis (Ireland)

Attendance:15,681

Scorers: Clermont Auvergne: Pens: James (5) Sale Sharks:Tries: Doherty 20, McAlister 51, Keil 72, Cueto 76. Cons: McAlister (3) Pens: McAlister (2)

CLERMONT AUVERGNE: A Floch; N Vonowale Nalaga, B Baby (P Garcia 53min), S Bai (A Mignardi 76min), J Malzieu; B James, P Mignoni; L Emmanuelli (T Domingo 63min), M Ledesma (M Lozupone 62min), D Zirakashvili (L Emmanuelli 73min), J Pierre, T Privat (C Samson 70min), J Bonnaire, E Vermeulen (capt), A Audebert.

SALE SHARKS: R Lamont; M Cueto (C Bell 79min),L McAlister, L Thomas (R Keil 13min), D Doherty; R Wigglesworth, D Peel (C Hodgson 45min); L Faure, N Briggs (M Jones 79min), E Roberts (S Turner half-time), C Jones (J White 70min), K Ormsby, J Fernandez Lobbe (capt), S Chabal (D Schofield 75min), L Abraham.