Speaking afterwards, coach Ian Peel said: “The team did everything we talked about before the game, and I'm delighted with all 22 players for what was a fantastic effort and a great advert for the Falcons brand of rugby.
“We played with pace, power and precision, we adapted well to situations as they happened on the field and played some outstanding rugby in every area. Our execution when we had the ball was very clinical, and our desire to win back possession when Sale had the ball was sensational.
“It is a pleasure to coach when players respond like they did tonight, and a number of this squad is quite rightly hammering on the door for first team recognition with the way they have played over the past three games.”
Right from the off it was apparent that the Falcons were finding fifth gear, as a rock solid set piece, aggressive scavenging in the rucks, slick recycling and co-ordinated backs moves gave the hosts plenty of food for thought.
With Ollie Phillips, Adam Dehaty and Micky Young all going within centimetres of scoring there was an air of inevitability about the opening try when it finally arrived on 15 minutes.
A towering Falcons line out on half way and a ten-metre drive saw flanker Eni Gesinde break through the middle of the rolling maul to race half the length of the field for a scorching try, beating the winger to dive home in the right corner.
Great vision from fly half Steve Jones with a cross kick from a penalty nearly sent Phillips in to the same corner moments later, but the second try was not long in coming as No.8 Peter Browne powered over from a close range pick-and-go move, Jones adding the extras.
With Gesinde sent to the sin bin for pulling down a Sale rolling maul, the Sharks seized the opportunity to grab their only try of the night as lock Glen Townson touched down from a catch-and-drive in the corner, Rhys Jones converting.
With ferocious defence in their own 22 the Falcons held out any further scores as centre Tom Dillon and scrum half Young produced crucial tackles, while the pack nullified Sale's rolling maul game with aggressive work in the tight.
With Sale too reduced to 14 men with the sin-binning of Selorm Kuadey for killing the ball at a ruck on his own line from a Phillips counter-attack, the Falcons pounced for their third just before the interval as deft hands from Jones played in Dillon for a well-worked set backs try, Jones converting for a 19-7 interval lead.
The half time introduction of prop Jon Golding produced a string of leg-pumping runs from the front row man as the Falcons again showed their dominance – Dutch wing Tim Visser racing down the left wing for the bonus point try after a scrum win against the head.
A Jones penalty stretched the lead to 22 points, while replacement back rower Ed Williamson made his presence felt with a host of rampaging carries and turnovers.
With the packon top, they again turned to the catch-and-drive as replacement hooker Ross Batty claimed the fifth try from a textbook maul, converted by replacement flyhalf Gavin Beasley who had earlier cleared his lines to good effect with a huge boot.
It was to the Falcons' credit that they never allowed the pace to drop a single notch right until the final whistle, and it was with this intensity that the sixth and last score came as Golding's hard work was rewarded with a catch-and-drive try in the right corner to finish what was the performance of the season from the in-form Development XV.
Sale Sharks:
Tries: Townson
Cons: Jones
Falcons Development XV:
Tries: Gesinde, Dillon, Browne, Batty, Golding, Visser
Cons: Jones 3, Beasley 2
Pens: Jones
Sale Sharks: 15 Mike Waywell, 14 Selorm Kuadey, 13 Tom Babb, 12 Chris Leck, 11 Oliver Brennand, 10 Rhys Jones, 9 Will Cliff, 1 Rob O'Donnell, 2 Marc Jones, 3 Pete Altham, 4 Brent Cockbain, 5 Glen Townson, 6 James Jones, 7 Alex Shaw, 8 David Tait.
Replacements: Andrew Baston, Andy Irving, Mike Walker-Fitton, James Gaskell, Adam Baines, Nick Royle, Michael Raikes.
Falcons Development XV: 15 Joe Shaw (captain), 14 Ollie Phillips, 13 Tom Dillon, 12 Adam Dehaty, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Steve Jones, 9 Micky Young, 1 Johnny Williams, 2 Rob Vickers, 3 Micky Ward, 4 Sean Tomes, 5 Stuart Walker, 6 Tim Swinson, 7 Eni Gesinde, 8 Peter Browne.
Replacements: Jon Golding, Ross Batty, Ed Williamson, Phil Dawson, Ross Samson, Gavin Beasley, Rob McDermott.
