With little free-flowing rugby on show, Sale Sharks were grateful to AJ MacGinty's boot as they defeated Harlequins.
AJ MacGinty settled a scrappy contest against Harlequins in Sale Sharks' favour as he kicked seven penalties in a 28-17 home win.
A perfect record with the boot allowed MacGinty to ensure Sale took control of Friday's stop-start Premiership encounter as neither side managed to build momentum under the lights.
Harlequins made a flying start as Mike Brown crossed and then TMO ruled against a second try, before Jack Clifford also went over.
But MacGinty kicked four first-half penalties and secured his side a five-point lead at the interval when he converted Byron McGuigan's breakaway try.
And the theme simply continued after the break with more accurate MacGinty kicking.
Marcus Smith dispatched a penalty at the other end, but that was followed by a Kyle Sinckler yellow card for a late hit on Faf de Klerk.
Matt Symons also retreated to the sin bin in the closing stages as his cynical foul allowed MacGinty to make it seven from seven.