The Blues started the game strongly with a good break in midfield but they were penalised for crossing when the try looked on. However, they were dominating territory and got an early penalty through Ben Blair.
Roberts was proving a handful for the Sale Sharks defenders and Blair soon doubled the lead after the Sharks were penalised for offside.
Halfpennys long range attempt just drifted wide but the Blues looked good, with Felise putting Shanklin into space that saw him have a run in at the line only to be pulled back for offside. Former Blue Lee Thomas had a shot at goal that also drifted wide.
It didnt take long for the Sharks to get on the scoreboard with the Blues penalised for hands in the ruck and Hodgson claiming their first points of the night.
Halfpenny saw another long range effort just drift wide before two minutes later striking the ball from the halfway line, seeing it split the posts to give the Blues a 3-9 lead.
The Sharks struck back using big number 8 Koyamibole and Tuilagi as battering rams. Eventually they crashed over but it was impossible to see if the ball was grounded. The referee referred the matter to the TMO, who must have had a better angle on the matter to award the try to Koyamibole. Hodgson converted to give the sharks the lead for the first time.
Bizarrely Andy Powell was awarded a yellow card for a very innocuous shove on Dwayne Peel. It would prove costly to the Blues.
From a scrum 40 yards out Sale broke and used the extra man with Dean Schofield crossing and Hodgson converted.
Half Time
Sale Sharks 17 Cardiff Blues 9
The Sharks were awarded another scrum early on and with the Blues still down to 7 in the scrum they capitalised, this time James Gaskell sprinted in for the try. Hodgson converted.
The Blues conceded 14 points while down to 14 men.
The Blues were now back to 15 and looked much more dangerous. From a line out won by Scott Morgan the Blues drove and Andy Powell crashed over. Blair converted to bring the score to 24-16.
Blair converted another penalty to bring the Blues to within 5 points of the Sharks with just over 10 minutes left. As Harlequins last week it would be another tense finish, but this time with the Blues chasing the game. Hodgson slotted a drop goal to put more pressure on the Blues with 7 minutes left.
The Blues looked to have salvaged a losing bonus point when they threw the ball around and worked Leigh Halfpenny seemed to have dived over in the corner. However, the lines man deemed him in touch. Sale overthrew the lineout that wasnt gathered and Sowden Taylor dived on the lose ball for a try. Blair converted to slavage the Blues a losing bonus point.
Cardiff Blues
15 Ben Blair 14 Leigh Halfpenny 13 Tom Shanklin 12 Jamie Roberts 11 Tom James 10 Sam Norton-Knight 9 Richie Rees 73off
8 Andy Powell 75off 7 Robin Sowden Taylor 6 Sam Warburton 5 Scott Morgan 4 Deiniol Jones 3 Taufa'au Filise 2 Gareth Williams 56off 1 Gethin Jenkins (c)
16 T Rhys Thomas 56 on17 Darren Morris 18 Gary Powell 19 Ben White 75on 20 Rhys Williams 21 Gareth Cooper 73on 22 Ceri Sweeney 23 Richard Mustoe
Attendance 8,156
Cardiff Blues
Try A Powell x 1Sowden Taylor x 1
Penalty Blair x 3 Halfpenny x 1
Con Blair x 2
D/Goal
Sale Sharks
Try Koyamaibole x 1 Schofield x 1 Gaskell x 1
Penalty Hodgson x 1
Con Hodgson x 3
D/Goal Hodgson x 1