Ashton is treble for Connacht
Sale 34 Connacht 13 CONNACHT suffered a triple shark bite from Chris Ashton as the England winner turned the screw at the AJ Bell Stadium.
The controversial winger marked his debut for Sale after serving his latest ban by running in a hat-trick of scores.
Ashton grabbed a key try before the break and then Sale took control after the restart before closing out the bonus point win which leaves them in charge of the pool.
But fears that Connacht, having fielded a side laced with youth, might struggle did not materialise early on as they had a fine start.
Academy player Conor Fitzgerald (below), starting his first match having made his debut off the bench last weekend, led the way.
Released by Munster academy a few months ago, the 21-year-old slotted two early penalties before hooker Shane Delahunt got over in the right corner for a try.
From there on the tide turned and Ashton, quiet until then, put on the burners to score in the right corner with Francois de Klerk’s excellent conversion levelling matters.
Sale took charge after the restart and were ruthless in punishing Connacht.
No.8 Josh Beaumont burst over from the base of the scrum before Ashton tapped a penalty and scored.
He sealed the bonus point and then rubbed salt in the Connacht wound by swandiving across the line 16 minutes from time.