VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: Bristol Bears v Sale Sharks

The Sale Sharks edged the Bristol Bears 35-29 in a thrilling second leg Champions Cup round of 16 clash. The Bristol Bears took a slender one point advantage into the encounter after a mundane 10-9 first leg win away from home. Sale picked up a yellow card midway through the first half and Bristol kicked the penalty to lead 3-0. Sale evened things up with a penalty shortly after and ran in the first try of the match just after the half hour mark to lead 10-3. Sale then picked up a red card after 34 minutes, meaning they would be down a player for the remainder of the game, but the resulting Bristol penalty attempt went wide. Sale went over for their second try with the final play of the first half to take a 17-3 lead into the break, up 26-13 on aggregate. Sale got off to the perfect start in the second half, as they scored from the kickoff to push their lead out to 24-3, meaning an aggregate advantage of 20 points. Sale then picked up another yellow card after 47 minutes and Bristol capitalized with two quick tries to trail 24-17. Momentum was firmly with the Bears and they ran in another try after 63 minute to draw level at 24 apiece on the night, up by a single point on aggregate. Sale immediately hit back with a penalty to get their noses in front one again. It was then the turn of Bristol to pick up a yellow card and Sale made them pay with a penalty, quickly followed by a try to push the score to 35-24, up by ten points on aggregate with five minutes remaining. Bristol crossed for a late try with two minutes to play to give themselves a chance to snatch it at the death, but it was not to be as the Sale Sharks held on to book their spot in the Champions Cup quarter-finals.