If Sale thought we were here to make up the numbers on their march to the play-offs they were in for a shock. The boys played with the same intensity and commitment that stopped Perpignan and should have beaten Toulouse.

I am proud of what the team have achieved this season. I am proud when Sale fans (a welcoming and generous bunch) come up to me and tell me my team were awesome. Today we are one of the best teams in the Premiership. Our GP results in 2008 and our Heineken Cup exploits make us the standout team in England this year. What has let us down are the early season results.

This was a victory founded on defence. We tackled hard, we scrambled back well when Hodgson, McAlister, Foden and Wigglesworth (a tricksy quartet) made their inevitable line breaks and two of our tries can from turnover ball. What I saw today was a real determination to win, coupled with the results of excellent coaching and first class fitness preparation.

The day started with a quick check of the papers where it seemed our agenda was consigned to a footnote. Today was about Sale winning and securing their playoff place. Some even failed to acknowledge our chance of securing HC rugby. Maybe it was all too complicated for Lunchtime O'Booze and co.

On the train from Euston to Stockport my thoughts turned to 3 seasons ago where the last day was complicated by a 5 way fight to avoid relegation. That day turned out well for us, but was a disaster for Quins. Today we need each other to win well.

It was also the last day of last season where I was subjected to a racist attack on the train home from Northampton merely for wearing a London Irish shirt. I considered bringing a chance of clothes, but surely it won't happen today.

This was my first visit to Edgerley Park and today completes my GP set. I've been to them all now. I braved the queues of Shark fans snapping up their 25 quid replica shirts to get my Sale Sharks pin badge.

Despite it being a warm shirt-sleeves day, being Manchester it contrived to rain. Just light spots of warm rain that started just before the game and returned intermittently throughout. My seat on the back row of the Britannia stand, right behind the goal posts, gave me a great view of the action, but I couldn't see the scoreboard or game clock so forgive me but any timings are approximate.

Spud led the team out for his final LI game and got a sporting round of applause from the Sale crowd.

From the off both team seemed willing to run the ball as much as possible. Sale had the first opportunity when Foden found himself in our 22 with Vilk outside him, but he didn't pass and was pinged for holding on.

The next 15 minutes saw both sides testing each others defence with running attacks. Shane made several attempts to dart through the line to no avail. McAlister chipped a neat little kick into touch for a 5m lineout. It was taken quickly but first Losi then Maps nearly got caught out in our 22. Their strength, to be seen later in attack, made sure we survived intact.

On the quarter hour, Shane tried a cross field kick for Losi to chase, Vilk beat him to it in Sale's 22 and shipped the ball to Foden who broke through the centre. As he was chased down by our defence, he passed to Wigglesworth who then put McAlister through in our 22 heading for the line. Our scramble defence showed that it was up to the task and brought the Kiwi down well short of the line. Sale recycled and exerted some pressure but it came to nought when Charlie Hodgson's attempted drop goal sailed wide right.

Peter Hewat spotted a hole in Sale's coverage and drop kicked the ball into touch on Sale's 22. Play stayed in their half of the pitch until Steffon, I think, was pinged for tackling the man without the ball off the base of a scrum. Sale secured their lineout ball, but as they passed it out, Topsy nipped in and plucked the ball from the air and raced untouched for the Try line. Squinty added the extras. 0-7 21mins.

A key part of the attacking game plan seemed to be 'get the ball to Maps and Losi/Topsy and run round them'. Pre-game planning may have noticed a weakness in Sale's back-three tackling, because Losi had a field day against Andy Vilk. That's how the second try came. The ball came out of a ruck on our 22, Shane moved the ball quickly out to Maps who surged forward before putting Losi in space on the left wing. He ran round Vilk's attempted tackle and sprinted into Sale territory. As Sale's cover defence closed in, he passed the ball back inside to Maps who rounded off a superb 'length of the field' try. Squints missed the conversion.

Sale kept coming back with enterprising running moves but our defence held firm. Bob made an outstanding tackle on Wigglesworth just as he was reaching to touch down for a try. Steffon, who had another excellent game, came up with a turnover and Squinty cleared the ball into the wide open spaces in Sale's half.

On about the 35 minutes mark, Chris White awarded us a penalty for hands in the ruck just inside our half, but in the middle of the field. Squinty had a shot but getting the distance meant it lost accuracy.

Mr Hickey's next piece of action was an excellent up and under. I thought he timed his tackle to perfection, hitting Foden the moment his feet touched the floor. Chris White thought otherwise and awarded a penalty, to the chants of 'off, off' from the Sale crowd. Paicey clearly saw it like me and let Mr White know. It looked like Dodge was trying to shut David up and get him 10 metres back but the result of all this passion was a bit of handbags between our players. Anyway Granny White marched us 10 metres. Hodgson C then had a shot at 3 but missed to the right.

An excellent run by Topsy saw us in attacking range again. Shane had an attempt at a drop goal that was so poor it was only a metre or so from being an excellent kick to the corner.

Half time Sale 0-12 London Irish

The second half saw continued attacking by Sale and superb defence by the Irish. 5 minutes in Charlie Hodgson got a favourable bounce on a chip ahead in our 22 but was brought down short of the line and we held out.

Replacements came. Sheridan, Bruno and Cueto came of for the Sharks. We brought on Thorpe for Spud, Gary Johnson for Bob and Dan replaced Tonga.

As the half progressed we seemed to get penalised more and more. I was concerned we would lose somebody, even with Granny White as ref. Eventually it was Thorpey who took a rest at about 65 minutes for hands on the ball in the ruck.

We continued to defend well. I wrote in my notes 'no Nick, no Bob but we still rule the lineout'. We were stronger at both lineout and scrum for most of the game. Sheridan had a positive effect in the scrum for Sale, but for a large chunk of the half we were short staffed in the pack.

The next Yellow came for an incident reported by the touch judge. Jimmy H had done something naughty and we were down to 13 men. But still we held.

Sale were taking more risks as the half wore on with still a doughnut on the scoreboard for them. Holes opened up and we had some good attacks. Maps broke down the left and checked to pass inside about 7 metres from the line. Bruno, I think, batted the pass down. Should have been a penalty, could have been a penalty try and a Yellow. What did Grandma give? Scrum.

Tomas (on for Pete Hewat) came close on the right hand side but was tackled into touch a few metres short.

Sale were now getting desperate and taking huge risks to keep the ball alive. This led to our last try when Maps picked up a dropped ball on about half way and steamed towards the try line. Cueto got across to him by Maps showed his strength yet again and got the ball down for his second try.

The conversion was taken quickly (it missed): the team wanted that fourth try. However, it wasn't to be. The last play of the game saw Chris Bell save some embarrassment by touching down in the left corner. The extras were added and the game was over. Sale 7-17 London Irish.

This game and the last few games we have played make me feel very positive for the future. I have admired the way Wasps seem to have 'something good in the water' in that they turn average players into great players and produce fantastic young talent. I think we are getting there. Hudson and Johnson were very effective, as was Mackie against Bristol, and that has got to be down to good coaching and a team attitude that dictates a level of commitment and performance. We won't be in the HC but I am still eagerly anticipating next season.