IOAN LLOYD came off the bench to score the match-winner for Bristol and decide a patient game at Ashton Gate.
The 18-year-old Welshman was called into action when Luke Daniels was forced off with a shoulder injury and, for the second successive home game, he crossed the line within ten minutes of his introduction.
Lloyd went over after Bristol had lost lock Chris Vui to the sin-bin for dragging down a line-out and Lloyd said: “When we went down to 14, we expended a lot of effort in defence so it was a relief to go over.
“I'm not used to playing wing so I'm very grateful to Harry Randall for telling me where to go.” With the game in the balance, it was Randall's kick and a favourable bounce that allowed Lloyd to seal victory and provide some entertainment after 75 minutes of mediocre fare.
With both sides content to hoist the ball into the night sky and handling errors abounding, it made for a poor spectacle.
In the first half, Sale were atrocious with their set-piece lacking accuracy and when they did secure possession, former Bristol player, Will Cliff, did his best to emulate his mentor, Faf de Klerk, by kicking the ball at every opportunity but with limited success.
His half-back partner Rob du Preez wasn't much better with the result that Sale didn't venture into the home 22 until the second half.
With a change in personnel at half-back and some powerful running from centre Rohan van Rensburg Sale became the dominant force and had every chance to win but ultimately lacked the precision to get themselves over the line.
Bristol were no great shakes but Charles Piutau and Callum Sheedy were more controlled with their kicking and, over the 80 minutes, they just about deserved to come away with the four points.
Sale had the first chance to get on the scoreboard but Rob du Preez's 40 metre penalty bounced back off a post before the outside-half kicked the next penalty straight over the dead ball line when his team sought an attacking line-out.
The first quarter was a complete non-event with Sheedy having Bristol's only scoring opportunity but his wide-angled penalty attempt sailed wide.
However, Sheedy then succeeded with a simple one before his side put together the first sustained pressure of the match.
The hosts battered the try-line but the Sale defence was resolute and it was left to Sheedy to succeed with two penalties in quick succession to give his side a 9-0 interval lead.
Bristol lock Dave Attwood fumbled the restart to give the visitors their first foray into the opposition 22, but they suffered a blow when their skipper, Jono Ross, departed with a leg injury.
However, they overcame this to become dominant and were rewarded with a penalty from AJ Macginty after Harry Thacker had been penalised for a high tackle.
When Bristol lost Vui to the sin-bin, the outlook looked bleak for the hosts but they managed to break out for Lloyd's crucial try.
Sale seemed set to come away with nothing but they regrouped and a try from Cameron Neild gave them a bonus point.
