European Challenge Cup: Sale Sharks 29-20 Pau

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Sale v PauImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Sale, playing in yellow against Pau, return to Premiership action on 28 November when they host Newcastle

European Rugby Challenge Cup

Sale Sharks (14) 29

Tries: Mujati, Jennings, James, Mills Cons: Ford 3 Pen: Ford

Pau (13) 20

Tries: Ramsay, Lespaiucq-Brettes Cons: Daubagna 2 Pens: Daubagna 2

Sale Sharks narrowly beat French side Pau to win their first match in European Challenge Cup Pool 2.

A converted try from prop Brian Mujati gave Sale the perfect start but Pau then led 10-7 as Daniel Ramsay's score followed a Thibault Daubagna penalty.

Sharks centre Mark Jennings crossed to ensure the hosts led at half-time and Joe Ford's penalty made it 17-13.

Pau's Quentin Lespiaucq-Brettes and Sale's Sam James swapped tries before Jonathan Mills secured a bonus point.

There were never more than seven points between the two sides in an extremely close contest, until replacement lock Mills touched down in the final seconds.

The Sharks lost their opening match 30-12 to Welsh club Newport Gwent Dragons, while Pau's first pool match was cancelled following the Paris attacks on 13 November.

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Both sides observed a minute's silence before kick-off in memory of the victims of the Paris attacks and former New Zealand winger Jonah Lomu, who died on Wednesday aged 40

Sale: Haley; Brady, James, Jennings, Addison; Ford, Cusiter; Harrison, Taylor, Mujati, Evans, Ostrikov, Lund (capt), Ioane, Fihaki.

Replacements: Neild, Flynn, Parker, Mills, Beaumont, Mitchell, Jeffers, Edwards.

Pau: Malie; Bobo, Vatubua, Votu, Niko; Fernandez, Daubagna; King, Lespiaucq-Brettes, Natsarahvili, Dry, Ramsay, Bernad, Bouilhou (capt), Coughlan.

Replacements: Campo, Hurou, Moise, Domolailai, Butler, Marques, Ratuvou, Dupouy.

Referee: Ben Whitehouse

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