Maverick fly-half Carlos Spencer sparkled on his debut as Gloucester overcame Sale Sharks with a stirring second half fight back to remain on top of the Guinness Premiership.

Gloucester last lost at home in the competition on the opening day of the season when Leicester emerged 20-8 victors and this most recent win opens a four-point lead at the top.

Having trailed 17-8 at half time Gloucester, as they did against London Irish two weeks earlier, staged a magnificent comeback to take the points.

Sale had taken control of the first half with tries from Lee Thomas and Charlie Hodgson, the latter also converting both scores and landing a penalty.

Gloucester replied through wing Mark Foster and an Olly Barkley penalty before a second half surge saw Apo Satala cross, Barkley kick eight points and Ryan Lamb drop a goal.

After the game Spencer, who signed a 17-month contract with Gloucester earlier this month, said he was pleased to play and get the notorious Shed supporters on his side.

The 33-year-old New Zealander clearly had made a good impression because when he left the field on 68 minutes he was given a rousing ovation from the Gloucester faithful.

Following the win Spencer, who has 35 All Black caps, said he had not made the trip from Northampton to Gloucester to make up the numbers.

"It's good to get the first game under your belt especially when you are starting somewhere new," he said.

"It took us a while to get going in the first half but once we got some momentum going Sale struggled to keep up with us. One of my main concerns was getting the Shed behind me and do the basics well which I think I did.

"I was pretty excited when I got the opportunity to come to Gloucester because I like the style that they play and I hope I can be part of the momentum they are building this season.

"It's a fresh start for me – when one door closes another one opens. It's another challenge for me and one that I needed," he added.

Spencer was at risk of being outshone by another All Black as Luke McAlister subjected Barkley to a torrid afternoon.

It was off one of McAlister's decisive breaks that Sale extended their lead after Hodgson kicked a penalty on seven minutes when Gloucester strayed offside. Chris Bell was on hand to zip up the right and the winger found Thomas on the inside and the centre crossed. Hodgson converted for 10-0 on 23 minutes.

Barkley landed Gloucester's first points on 30 minutes and on 36 minutes Gloucester trailed just 10-8 when Foster crossed on the left after good work from Iain Balshaw, Spencer, Barkley and the impressive James Simpson-Daniel.

Gloucester looked as if they were going to go further ahead when Thomas was sin-binned and they laid siege to the Sale line. But an ambitious pass from Barkley was plucked from the air by Sale flanker Chris Jones and after he had cantered half the pitch Hodgson crossed. His conversion sent Sale in 17-8 at the break.

Gloucester responded brilliantly. Just 40 seconds after the kick-off Satala came thundering onto a pass from Simpson-Daniel who had scythed through the Sale defence.

Barkley added the extras, and on 44 minutes put Gloucester into a 18-17 lead with a penalty as Sale failed to roll away at the breakdown.

On 62 minutes he landed a further penalty for 21-17 and when Lamb, who had replaced Spencer, dropped a goal on 79 minutes Sale finally surrendered and Kingsholm erupted.

Sale director of rugby Kingsley Jones said: "It's very difficult to come to Kingsholm. You need to be 10 points better to get a win.

"We made some errors straight after half-time and suddenly found ourselves just two points ahead and we lost our composure and discipline which ultimately cost us the match."

Gloucester: I Balshaw; M Foster, M Watkins (C Sharples 28), O Barkley, J Simpson-Daniel (A Allen 65), C Spencer (R Lamb 68), R Lawson, N Wood, O Azam (Capt) (A Titterell 71), G Somerville, W James (A Eustace 69), A Brown, A Satala, A Hazell, G Delve. Reps not used: J Forster, D Williams.

Scorers – Tries: Foster, Satala. Cons: Barkley. Pens: Barkely 3. Drop goal: Lamb

Sale Sharks: N Macleod, C Bell, L McAlister, L Thomas, O Ripol (S Kuadey 50), C Hodgson, R Wigglesworth, E Roberts, S Bruno (Briggs 57), S Turner, D Schofield, S Cox (B Cockbain 57), C Jones, L Abraham (M Jones 69), J Fernandez-Lobbe (capt). Reps: R O'Donnell, C Leck, R Keil.

Scorers – Tries: Thomas, Hodgson. Cons: Hodgson 2. Pens: Hodgson.

Yellow card: L Thomas (28) B Cockbain (61)

Referee: M Fox (RFU). Att: 13,466.