Denny Solomona scored a first-half hat trick as Sale claimed victory at Northampton for the first time in 12 years with a 34-25 win.
The Sharks had lost on their past nine visits to Franklin's Gardens, with their losing streak stretching back to May 2006.
But a superb first-half showing that saw Solomona run riot and Marland Yarde also register a try left the Saints shell-shocked and trailing 31-6 at the interval.
Northampton did eventually respond after the break with Michael Paterson, Rob Horne and Heinrich Brussow scoring, but it was too little, too late, despite two Sale sin-bins.
Saints staff and supporters had worked together to clear snow from the ground to get the game on and when it did kick-off Sale started strongly.
After Ben Foden was bundled into touch five metres from his own line, the Sharks set up a move that was eventually finished by Solomona wide on the right.
Faf de Klerk kicked the conversion from the touchline and the Sharks held a 7-0 lead after just seven minutes, with Northampton having earlier lost skipper Christian Day to injury.
Tom Wood was also added to the home side's injury list and Sale were enjoying the better of the early exchanges with De Klerk landing a penalty.
Piers Francis failed with a far simpler penalty attempt for Saints, striking the post, but he made an even easier one soon after to get his team on the board.
But Sale responded with a fine score, winger Yarde starting a move that was finished by Solomona.
Francis cut the deficit slightly with another Northampton penalty, but Sale refused to relent and Solomona registered his hat-trick try in the 34th minute after being released by De Klerk.
The scrum-half kicked the conversion and then set up a fourth Sharks soon after with his box kick booted ahead by Yarde, who gathered to dot down.
With De Klerk again adding the extras, the visitors held 25-point advantage at the break.
However, Northampton flew out of the blocks at the start of the second half, with lock Paterson scoring two minutes after the restart while Jono Ross was sin-binned for Sale.
The hosts were suddenly looking like a totally different side and they scored again after a fine pass from Francis found Horne on the right.
Sale were losing their composure and they were reduced to 14 men again in the 54th minute when full-back Mike Haley was sin-binned for deliberately tripping Horne.
De Klerk landed another penalty but Northampton would not give up and Brussow scored his first Saints try nine minutes from time, although Sale had enough in the bank in the end to hold on for victory.