Steve Diamond: Still hoping to reach knockout phase

Steve Diamond was delighted after Sale put their Premiership relegation woes to one side with a bonus-point win over Scarlets in the LV= Cup.

Fly-half Danny Cipriani claimed a 21-point haul as Diamond's men kept alive their hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the Anglo-Welsh tournament with a 36-17 triumph.

Sale have endured a bitterly disappointing Premiership campaign and lie bottom of the table after 13 games.

But they ultimately had too much power for their Welsh visitors as tries from Richie Vernon, Charlie Amesbury, Cipriani and replacement Charlie Ingall secured the five-point haul.

Diamond, whose side travel to Wasps next week knowing victory could take them into the semi-finals, said: "We had to get four tries if we are to have any chance of progressing.

"We can't bank on just going to Wasps and winning - we're not good enough to do that.

"We've got to go down there, play well and try and get a result. That could be enough."

Diamond revealed skipper David Seymour had suffered no serious injury after he picked up a heavy knock and was replaced in the first half.

The Scarlets, missing over 20 first-team players largely due to international commitments, opened the scoring in the fourth minute after Cipriani misjudged a bouncing ball and Andy Fenby hacked forward before touching down.

Cipriani replied with his first penalty but Scarlets grabbed their second try through scrum-half Gareth Davies, putting the visitors 14-3 ahead.

But Sale hit back with a try from impressive number eight Vernon and Cipriani helped to orchestrate a fine try for winger Amesbury on the stroke of half-time.

Further tries from Cipriani, who kicked four penalties and two conversions, and replacement Ingall eased Sale home.

Diamond added: "Danny is a good player. Give home go-forward ball, as the pack did today, and he shows his class."

Scarlets head coach Simon Easterby took the positives from his side's first-half display before they gradually fell away after Jake Ball and Rhodri Jones were sinbinned either side of the break.

Easterby said: "We just dropped off second half, lacked composure and they got on a roll.

"We're missing 25 or 26 players but it is what it is. We know we have a large contingent in the Wales set-up, so this is an opportunity for younger boys to go out and show what they can do.

"I thought they went well, so there were some certainly individual positives to take from the first half in particular."