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Glasgow Warriors began their Champions Cup journey in perfect fashion with a valuable bonus-point away victory against Sale.

Taking advantage of the wind at their backs, Sale began the brighter and raced to a fourteen-point lead within 20 minutes. Scores from the Sale skipper and teenage debutant Ollie Davies put them in command.

But, the visitors responded well with a pair of scores before half-time. Forward Hiddleston and flanker Rory Darge both went over to reduce the deficit.

Additional after the break scores from captain Kyle Steyn and Stafford McDowall extended the Warriors' lead to twelve points. A late try for the hosts set up a tense finale, but the visitors stood strong to secure a major first-round win.

Glasgow Seize Initiative After Half-Time

The match started with a bang as Sale captain Ernst van Rhyn drove over from close range after only two minutes. A first-half knock to centre Ma'asi-White brought 19-year-old Davies into the fray for his cup debut.

Davies made an immediate impact. Switching to fly-half, he took a smart angle to collect an offload and touch down, extending Sale's advantage.

Facing challenging weather, the Warriors turned to their forward power to get back into the game. A strong driving maul was finished by front-rower Hiddleston. Just before the half, Darge forced his way over, with Hastings' conversion making it a narrow deficit at the interval.

Glasgow seized the advantage for the first occasion soon after the second half. A misjudged kick was gathered by number eight Jack Dempsey, who set up skipper Steyn to burst through a tackle and race away to the try-line.

Now in the ascendancy, Glasgow secured the fourth try when McDowall powered past a tackle to celebrate his century for the club. That score capped a sequence of 26 unanswered points.

Sale found a lifeline when Marius Louw showed good skills to score. The kick made it a five-point game with time remaining.

One last opportunity came for them from a line-out in the 22, but they failed to secure the possession, sealing the Warriors' triumph.

Looking Ahead

Sale must bounce back ahead of a trip to face Clermont Auvergne next Saturday. In contrast, Glasgow Warriors will welcome European giants Toulouse to Scotstoun.

Both sides are placed in a strong Pool One that also includes the English side and South African team the Sharks.

Line-ups

Sale Sharks: Reed; O'Flaherty, Ma'asi-White, Louw, Wills; Du Preez, Quirke; McIntyre, Jibulu, John, Burrow, Bamber, Vermeulen, Van Rhyn, T Curry.
Replacements: Caine, Onasanya, Harper, Andrews, B Curry, Warr, Davies, Wehr.

Glasgow Warriors: McKay; Steyn, McDowall, Tuipulotu, Smith; Hastings, Horne; McBeth, Hiddleston, Z Fagerson, Williamson, Cummings, M Fagerson, Darge, Dempsey.
Replacements: Stephen, Sutherland, Talakai, Samuel, Brown, Miller, Dobie, Lancaster.

Match Officials

Referee: Pierre Brousset (France).
Assistant Referees: Vincent Blasco Baque (France) and Julien Caulier (France).
TMO: Tual Trainini (French).