Brisol get the better of Sale Sharks

Bristol Bears got their Prem campaign off to a fine start as they claimed a bonus-point triumph away to Sale Sharks.

With no newcomers in their starting line-up, Bristol showed the benefit of continuity as they ran in five tries to get up and running in style.

Wales star Louis Rees-Zammit got two of them, Harry Randall matched that with scores either side of half-time, before a 73rd-minute effort from replacement hooker Tomas Gwilliam made certain of victory.

But it was a disappointing first night for the Sharks, who lost no fewer than 13 Prem games last season.

Luke Cowan-Dickie's try had put them ahead early on and Tom O'Flaherty scored two in the second half but they finished short of either of the bonus point markers.

Sale: Carpenter; O'Flaherty, Marchant, Ma'asi-White, Reed; Ford, Roe; Rodd, Cowan-Dickie, Opoku-Fordjour, van Rhyn (capt), Bamber, Lawes, T Curry, Vermuelen.

Replacements: Jibulu, Smith, Francis, Tshiunza, Dugdale, Warr, Lozowski, Canakaviata.

Bristol: Jordan; Rees-Zammit, Janse van Rensburg, Williams, Ibitoye; MacGinty, Randall; Genge, Oghre, Kloska, Rubiolo, Batley, Owen, Ivanishvili, Harding (capt).

Replacements: Gwilliam, Woolmore, Halliwell, Taylor, Luatua, Marmion, Pepper, Grondona.

Referee: Sara Cox