Champions Cup roundup: Glasgow sink Sale with stylish opening victory

Glasgow Warriors extended their unbeaten start to the new season by pulling away to claim an impressive 47-27 win at Sale in Pool 1. Glasgow’s winning score might have looked convincing but they only secured victory in the final 20 minutes after Rekeiti Ma’asi-White had temporarily reduced Sale’s deficit to four.

The hosts had made all the running in the early stages and were 12 points up inside the first 10 minutes helped by tries from Ben Curry and Arron Reed. The visitors hit back through a penalty try and further efforts from Kyle Steyn and Jamie Dobie to carve out a hard-earned 21-15 lead at the interval.

The game looked in the balance until late tries from Rory Darge, Ollie Smith and debutant Otavio Tuipulotu helped Glasgow pull away and wrap up a precious bonus-point win. Glasgow host Pau in their next Champions Cup encounter while Sale travel to Leinster for a tricky test in mid-December. Leinster were at Clermont in a 3.15pm BST kick-off.

In Pool 4, the Bulls beat Stade Français 21-6. Bath are hosting Montpellier in an 8pm BST kick-off in the other match in that group.

Later on Saturday, the Johannesburg Lions play La Rochelle in Pool 2, in a game that is going ahead despite the sudden death in the South African team’s hotel of the lock Hyron Andrews. Connacht are hosting Saracens in the same pool.

In Pool 3, Bristol are in Cape Town to play Stormers in the afternoon, whle Munster host Racing 92 in a late kick-off.