SALE — Glasgow Warriors pulled away to secure an impressive 42-27 bonus-point victory over Sale Sharks in the Investec Champions Cup at CorpAcq Stadium in an emotional opening-round fixture played in memory of former Sale lock Hyron Andrews.
Sale started strongly as Ben Curry peeled off a maul and sprinted through before Arron Reed crossed out wide after sharp handling to put the hosts ahead. Glasgow responded when a penalty try for a maul infringement sent Gus Warr to the sin-bin and Tom Roebuck soon joined him after tripping Warriors captain Kyle Steyn. After Rory Darge spilled the ball with a try beckoning, Steyn raced down the wing to score, while Scotland's Jamie Dobie produced a wonderful finish to regain the lead for the visitors after George Ford's penalty had briefly put Sale back in front.
Lock Alex Craig powered over from close range as a familiar pattern emerged, with Rekeiti Ma'asi-White crossing after sustained pressure to keep Alex Sanderson's side in touch. A sublime one-handed offload from Joe Carpenter then set up Reed for his second try in response to a Warriors maul try, but Franco Smith's side finished strongly as replacement Ollie Smith and Sione Tuipulotu crossed to secure the bonus point. Under a new rule in this year's tournament, an extra point is awarded to teams that score three more tries than their opponents, and Glasgow's six tries to Sale's four delivered that reward.
There were tears on the pitch and in the stands before kick-off during a minute's silence for Andrews, 31, who died on Friday at the Johannesburg Lions' team hotel ahead of their Champions Cup match at La Rochelle. The South African played 45 times for Sale and featured regularly last season. The fixture followed Lions confirm death of Hyron Andrews aged 31 in France. Considered among the favourites after a clean sweep of bonus-point wins in last season's pool stage, Glasgow were stunned by Toulon in the quarter-finals at Scotstoun, with one of those pool wins coming against Sale after recovering from 14 points down to win 26-21. Glasgow are currently second in the United Rugby Championship.
The second round of Investec Champions Cup fixtures will be played in December, with Glasgow hosting Pau and Sale travelling to Dublin to face Leinster.