In normal circumstances last night's defeat would have left Leeds facing a desperate weekend. They remain four points off the bottom of the Zurich Premiership after another gallant display but, barring another twist to the Rotherham saga, the Tykes can now look ahead with rather less trepidation.
The same applies to Bath, Saracens and Harlequins but, after a season spent battling the odds, it must feel particularly strange for Leeds to be offered an olive branch bearing a Yorkshire postcode. With Manchester United and Arsenal playing up the road last night, however, it was lucky the two sides declined to allow the political cartwheels elsewhere to distract them from entertaining a faintly bemused crowd of 3,871.
Sale, who gained a bonus point when Mark Cueto went over for his second try of the game late on, were good value for their win in the end. They set their sights on European qualification at the start of the season and have now secured their goal without having to wait until Sunday's final home game against Quins.
Leeds certainly gave a good impression of a team with their livelihood at stake. Barely three minutes had elapsed before winger Chris Hall displayed both pace and elusiveness to beat at least three Sale defenders after a botched home line-out and Braam van Straaten added a conversion and a penalty to give his side a 10-point lead.
This was not what Sale had bargained for and they were suitably grateful for a well-taken 15th minute try from left-wing Anthony Elliott which gave them an overdue foothold on a fast, free-flowing game.
Leeds, with only one away league win so far this season, came close to further scores through Japie Mulder and Hall before the home side's proven ability to attack from deep finally put them ahead for the first time.
Charlie Hodgson began the move deep in his own 22 and the England fly-half popped up again to provide both the lovely floating pass which put Sale's other wing Mark Cueto over unopposed and the subsequent conversion. Hodgson has had a wonderful season and his distribution last night was frequently sublime.
The Tykes, though, are nothing if not stubborn opponents and led by a point at the interval, thanks to Van Straaten's superb kick from just inside his own half on the stroke of half-time.
Bryan Redpath's sniping run to the posts five minutes after the break, however, gave Sale fresh impetus and a conversion and three further penalties from Hodgson left the visitors with too much ground to make up despite a defiant try by Mulder.
Sale: Robinson; Cueto, Shaw, Deane, Elliott; Hodgson, Redpath (capt); Yates, Marais, Stewart, Fullarton, Jones, Sanderson, Pinkerton, Anglesea.
Leeds: Scarbrough; Bartolutti, Mulder, Van Straaten, Hall; Bashop, Benton; Wring, Holt, Shelley (capt), C Murphy, P Murphy, Hyde, Ponton, Hogg.
Referee: S Lander (Wirral).
