Sale Sharks ………………… 24pts
Tries: Cowan-Dickie 6, O’Flaherty 42, 69
Conversions: Ford 7, 43, 69 Penalty: Ford 16
Bristol Bears ………………. 34pts
Tries: Rees-Zammit 12, 23; Randall 39, 57; Gwilliam 72
Conversions: Williams 40, 57, 73
Penalty: Williams 32
Courtney Lawes took his first steps towards a potential England return – but his Sale Sharks debut against Bristol Bears will leave a bitter taste.
The legendary forward, 37, made his Sharks bow after two years spent playing in France’s second tier with Brive.
He played the full 80 minutes in the back row and was assured enough on his first Prem appearance since helping Northampton Saints to the title in 2023-24.
But it was Bristol who opened their campaign with a hard-earned bonus-point win to leave 105-capped Lawes gutted – and Sale empty-handed.
Pleased
The ex-Saints star has returned to England in a bid to reclaim an England jersey and Sharks boss Alex Sanderson said: “I thought he carried well and defensively he was strong – and it was 80 minutes for old legs.
“Courtney certainly didn’t look off the pace and he’s probably one of many that we believe there’s more to come, there’s more in him.
“And that’s the most positive thing, there’s so much room for improvement.”
Bristol counterpart Pat Lam was left delighted after Louis Rees-Zammit and Harry Randall both scored twice before replacement Tomas Gwilliam added a late fifth.
Lam said: “Sale’s such a hard place to come and win, so I’m very pleased and proud of the boys.
“I’m pleased because they got good evidence of the work they put into pre-season and the things we’ve been working on.
“You can do all of that, but you want evidence – and the boys got that.”
Gotcha: Bristol Bears wing Louis Rees-Zammit gets to grips with Sale Sharks new boy Joe Marchant
PICTURES: Getty Images
Match action
Lawes was one of two debutants in Sale’s starting line-up alongside scrum-half Xavier Roe from New Zealand.
They led when a period of pressure culminated in Luke Cowan-Dickie squeezing over from close range inside the right channel after good work from Roe moments earlier.
George Ford added the conversion to make it 7-0 before Bristol came back and had a try from fullback Tom Jordan ruled out following a quickly-taken lineout.
But the Bears claimed their first try in the 12th minute when James Williams’ exquisite long pass found Rees-Zammit and the Wales international dived over in the right corner.
Ford then booted a penalty for Sale but Rees-Zammit had his second try for Bristol in the 23rd minute after taking a pass from Jordan and crossing in the right corner again.
A minute before the interval, Bears scored their third try when scrum-half Randall collected possession and dived over from close range.
Williams, who had scored a penalty in the 31st minute, then converted Randall’s try to give Bristol a 20-10 interval lead.
Full stretch: Courtney Lawes wins lineout ball for Sale SharksSecond half
Early in the second half, Sale winger Tom O’Flaherty raced clear to score in the right corner and Ford’s second conversion cut Bristol’s lead to three points.
After a period of pressure on Sale’s line, Bristol had their fourth try in the 57th minute when Randall sniped over the line from close range for his second.
O’Flaherty finished well again for his second but Gwilliam powered over from close range for Bristol’s fifth and Williams added his third conversion to leave Sale empty-handed.
Bristol centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg showcased his England pedigree with an impressive display.
He ran hard and tackled hard as the Bears ran out worthy victors, although Joe Marchant grew into the game and made his mark in the second half.
Nevertheless, this was a day for Bristol to show their mettle and they did just that, with Janse van Rensburg more than playing his part.
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