Sale scored three tries after the break as their flinty pack, with Dan Du Preez and Ben Curry to the fore, began to finally get on top and dictate affairs. Bristol meanwhile had their moments and will be disappointed not to have salvaged at least a losing bonus point.
Sale fly-half George Ford said: "It was scrappy to start with and we had to manage those first 20 minutes until we started finding our game, but we did that and I was confident we would take the game to Bristol after the break.
"We spoke about needing more intensity and it was right there in the second half." A first-half brim-full of attacking intent may only have garnered a try apiece but there was entertainment aplenty although both sides at times lacked the precision to finish off the chances they created.
It was Bristol who looked the likeliest side early on, a situation helped by the ever-combative Curry having to spend 10 minutes in the bin when he mistimed a challenge on Rich Lane as he went up to field a high ball.
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