Bath are just one game away from their first trophy in 10 years after they defeated Sale Sharks 36-14 at the Rec in their European Challenge Cup semi-final.

Steve Meehan's side will now face another Guinness Premiership side in the shape of Worcester in the final.

The hosts used an expansive style of play to cut holes in the Sale defence and score five tries.

Sale led 21-14 after 23 minutes but the next score didn't come until the 58th minute when Andy Higgins sprinted away for the key score of the game after Michael Lipman had kicked the ball behind the try line after an uncharacteristic drop from All Black Luke McAlister at halfway.

However it was Bath's play in the opening stages of the game that would have impressed the watching Martin Johnson.

Their first try came in the fourth minute as scrum-half Michael Claassens took advantage of a nice bounce after a Charlie Hodgson kick was charged down.

The hosts then went 17-3 ahead as Lipman went over to finish off a spell of pressure.

But Sale hit back with a controversial try. After giving away a penalty under the posts, home captain Steve Borthwick was told by the referee to have a talk with his players.

With the Bath players gathered in a group, Hodgson asked the ref if he could take the kick quickly, he was given the all-clear and he then kicked into the corner for Chris Mayor to score.

That made it 17-11 and a booming penalty from McAlister closed the gap further, before Bath again moved the ball impressively into the 22 before Danny Grewcock went over for another score.

The pattern of the game changed as both defences tightened up, but it was always Bath who were looking the more dangerous.

However, it took McAlister's mistake in the second-half for them to get the fourth try which gave them the comfort zone they needed.

The match was wrapped up in the 66th minute when a little kick from Butch James saw Matt Banahan score in the corner.

Seán Fay / Eurosport