Glasgow fight back to stun Sale 47-27 in Champions Cup opener

Glasgow Warriors turned a nightmare start into a statement win, beating Sale Sharks 47-27 at Corpacq Stadium on Saturday 17 October to open their Pool 1 Champions Cup campaign. The Guardian

Sale flew out of the blocks. Ben Curry and Arron Reed both crossed inside the first 10 minutes to put the home side 12 points up. The crowd was loud. Glasgow were rattled.

The response was ruthless. Glasgow struck back with a penalty try, awarded when illegal play stops a certain try and worth seven points with no kick needed, plus scores from Kyle Steyn and Jamie Dobie. That burst flipped the game on its head.

Glasgow led 21-15 at the break. They had momentum. Sale still had fight.

Sale centre Rekeiti Ma’asi-White cut the gap to four points after the restart. Then Glasgow pulled clear in the final 20 minutes. Rory Darge, Ollie Smith and debutant Otavio Tuipulotu all scored late to seal it.

It was a bonus-point win, which means an extra table point for scoring four or more tries. That matters in the pool stage. Five points from one game is the perfect start.

Glasgow host Pau next in the competition. Sale face a tough trip to Leinster in mid-December.

Saturday was a packed day across Europe and South Africa. Leinster travelled to Clermont for a 3.15pm BST kick-off. Connacht hosted Saracens in Pool 2, while the Johannesburg Lions played La Rochelle in the same pool.

Bristol were away to the Stormers in Cape Town in Pool 3. Munster hosted Racing 92 in Pool 3 in a late kick-off. Bath hosted Montpellier in Pool 4 in an 8pm BST kick-off.

The Lions against La Rochelle went ahead despite the death of Lions lock Hyron Andrews in the team hotel. It was sombre news at the start of the European season, and the match was played under a shadow.

For fans, this means Glasgow set the early pace in Pool 1. Sale have time to regroup. The table is only just taking shape.