Jonny Fa'amatuainu's late try ensured Bath claimed a losing bonus point from their trip to Edgeley Park as their hectic eight-day schedule kicked off with defeat against their fellow play-off contenders.

A much-changed and disjointed Bath side were competitive for periods without really threatening to extend Sale's losing Guinness Premiership run to five ties.

With two home games to come over the next seven days, head coach Steve Meehan made his intentions clear by fielding a makeshift back-line for the trip north.

And the result was an error-strewn display from a group of individuals who had barely played together all season before last night.

Tries from Mark Cueto and Charlie Hodgson helped Sale into a 15-0 lead – and, after returning Bath fly-half Ryan Davis had kicked three penalties, Juan-Martin Fernandez Lobbe went over to increase the home side's lead.

But flanker Fa'amatuainu's late try, which was converted by replacement Jack Cuthbert, at least gave Bath something to show for their efforts in the form of a losing bonus point.

Meehan's side moved back into the play-off mix with four games to play as a result of their point – but the head coach will be concerned at losing No 8 Daniel Browne, who limped off before half-time.

It was not until the closing stages of the first half that Bath began to display any cohesion.

They fell behind as early as the fourth minute, Hodgson on target with a 45-metre penalty after a Bath tackler had been penalised for not rolling away.

The home side scored the first try of the evening on 19 minutes through Cueto.

Sale secured possession on their own scrum, but were then turned over – only to steal possession back and attack through Mathew Tait.

He burst into the 22 and passed to Cueto, who was tackled by Nick Abendanon a few metres short but still managed to get up to score.

Hodgson missed the conversion but Bath's ball retention was slack and they presented several opportunities to the Sharks.

It was from a Bath mistake – a lost line-out – that Sale scored their second try.

Having nicked set-piece ball, Sale kicked down-field and Michael Stephenson failed to deal with the up-and-under.

Hodgson kicked to the right wing – and although Bath hands beat Cueto to the ball, Sale's pressure forced the turnover and Hodgson was soon going over under the posts.

His conversion made it 15-0, before Abendanon's break was illegally halted and Davis – back in the side after 17 months out through injury – kicked the penalty.

Three minutes after the restart, the fly-half landed another penalty – following a ruck infringement – to bring Bath back to within nine points at 15-6.

But a lengthy spell of Sale possession on the Bath line followed – and although they could not force their way over for a try, Hodgson was offered another penalty and gladly took the points to make it 18-6.

Again, Bath hit back through a Davis penalty, but the game was devoid of any real tempo or rhythm.

Sale did their best to change that – and their switch in gears brought them a third try.

They had Bath under pressure in their own 22 – and even though Sale conceded a scrum, they profited when Bath tried to run it out and Andrew Higgins was driven back over his own line.

From the resulting scrum, Sale had too much power and No 8 Lobbe controlled the ball well at the base before pouncing to score.

Bath showed character, though, and earned a try of their own when Fa'amatuainu burst over after a quick penalty following Sebastian Bruno's sin-binning.

Fa'amatuainu himself saw yellow in the final minute – but Bath's solid defence in the dying seconds at least denied Sale the bonus point try which would have taken the Sharks above them in the table.

Sale Sharks: N Macleod; M Cueto, M Tait, L Thomas, O Ripol; C Hodgson, R Wigglesworth; A Sheridan, S Bruno, E Roberts, C Jones (D Tait 79), B Cockbain, J White, N Briggs, J-M Fernandez Lobbe (capt). Reps not used: L Faure, S Turner, S Cox, W Cliff, S Kuadey.

Scorers: Tries – Cueto, Hodgson, Lobbe. Con – Hodgson. Pens – Hodgson (2).

Sin-binned: Bruno (80, killing the ball).

Bath: N Abendanon (J Cuthbert 73); M Stephenson, T Cheeseman, S Hape, A Higgins; R Davis (E Fuimaono 73), S Bemand (M Baxter 79); D Barnes, R Hawkins, D Bell (A Jarvis 73), J Harrison (P Short 63), S Hooper, J Fa'amatuainu, M Lipman (capt), D Browne (A Beattie 34). Rep not used: M Lilley.

Scorers: Try – Fa'amatuainu. Con – Cuthbert. Pens – Davis (3).

Sin-binned: Fa'amatuainu (dangerous tackle).

Ref: S Davey. Att: 9,808.