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Sale Sharks ground out a European Challenge Cup win against Pool 2 leaders Cardiff Blues in a poor quality game in grim conditions.

The hosts went third, above Lyon, but the visitors stayed top.

Dublin-born United States fly-half AJ MacGinty kicked four penalties.

Will Cliff won the race for the opening try on the hour after scrum-half rival Lloyd Williams was charged down, and Welsh hooker Marc Jones drove over from close range late on.

MacGinty added the extras to put the game out of Blues' reach, but could not convert Jones' score.

The visitors threatened on several occasions as the game wore on, but they were unable to break through.

Blues host Sale in the rematch on Sunday, 17 December (15:15 GMT).

Sale: Haley; Solomona, Jennings, Van Rensburg, Charnley; MacGinty, Cliff; Harrison, Jones, John, Nott, Ostrikov, Neild, Curry, Ross (capt.).

Replacements: Webber, Flynn, Tarus, Postlethwaite, Seymour, De Klerk, James, O'Connor.

Cardiff: Morgan; Lane, Smith, Lee-lo, Summerhill; Anscombe, L. Williams; Thyer, Rees (capt.), Peikrishvili, Earle, Down, Davies, Turnbull, N. Williams.

Replacements: Myhill, Domachowski, Assiratti, Welch, Bennett, T. Williams, Evans, Scully.