In Pool A, Sale Sharks produced a dominant second-half performance to beat Bristol Bears 24-15 at a sparsely attended Salford Community Stadium.
The Bears started the stronger, Joe Jenkins touching down under the posts following a break from Harry Thacker, before Tom O’Flaherty responded for the home team against the run of play.
In deteriorating weather, a determined period of pressure before half-time finally paid dividends for Pat Lam’s men as debutant Josh Carrington forced his way over, assisted by AJ MacGinty.
But Bristol were unable to replicate that form in the second half and with Fitz Harding in the sin-bin, Sale levelled the scores – debutant Nathan Jibulu barrelling over from short range.
With Bristol – for whom Louis Rees-Zammit came on for his debut after 50 minutes – unable to escape their own half, replacement scrum-half Dom Hanson turned the game on its head, diving over for Sale’s third try following a break from Ollie Davies.
Davies then claimed a deserved try of his own with five minutes left, fighting his way over in the corner after a quick passing move involving Rekeiti Ma’asi-White to give Sharks a bonus point.
