Amlin Challenge Cup Pool One: Sale 53-14 Oyonnax

Danny Cipriani in action for Sale Sharks

Fly-half Danny Cipriani inspired Sale Sharks to victory over Oyonnax in their Amlin Challenge Cup Pool One clash.

Cipriani converted two tries of his own, kicked four more conversions and two penalties to help avenge a 16-10 loss in France eight days earlier.

James Gaskell, Mark Cueto, Dan Braid, Rob Miller and Michael Paterson were the other try-scorers as Sale collected a bonus point.

The victory puts the Sharks top of Pool One, a point ahead of Biarritz.

Sale left little doubt about their superior class by scoring the first 41 points unanswered.

Needing a win to answer Biarritz's bonus-point victory over Worcester on Thursday, Sale had to battle through a tough start - with Cipriani's early penalty the only score - until the points began to flow after 20 minutes.

The 26-year-old made it 6-0 with his second penalty in the 22nd minute and moments later his quick-thinking set up Gaskell for the first try.

Cipriani made and scored the second try himself, intercepting a stray pass to cross easily.

Further tries from Braid and Cueto - who wrong-footed two defenders before racing clear - helped Sale take a 34-0 lead in at half-time.

Cipriani then added a solo try before Oyonnax replied through Dug Codjo.

Roimata Hansell-Pune's try and Nicolas Vuillemin's conversion closed the gap to 41-14, but Sale soon restored order as Miller crossed, with Cipriani missing the conversion - his only error of the night.

Paterson capped the victory a minute from time after a 70-metre run from Tom Brady.

Sale: Miller; Brady, Jennings, Tuitupou, Cueto; Cipriani, Peel; Harrison, Taylor, Cobilas; Ostrikov, Kulemin; Braid (capt) Seymour, Gaskell.

Replacements: Ford for Jennings (55), Forsyth for Tuitupou (41), Cliff for Peel (55), Jones for Harrison (58), Buckley for Cobilas (58), J. Mills for Ostrikov (59), Paterson for Seymour (42).

Not Used: Flynn.

Oyonnax: Bousquet; Codjo, Bousses, Hansell-Pune, Koroivoutu; Vuillemin, Cibray; Iapteff, Clark, Du Preez; Lassale, Lagrange; Diaby, Andre, Slade (capt).

Replacements: Rapant for Clark (57), Tichit for Iapteff (43), Baiocco for du Preez (46), El Abd for Andre (40), Authier for Cibray (60), Aguillon for Bousses (67), Paea for Vuillemin (60), Nemecek for Lassalle (57).

Attendance: 3,689.

Ref: Neil Paterson.