Gloucester underlined that Kingsholm will once again be their fortress this season with an impressive win over last season's league runners-up. Victory means Gloucester have won two games out of two, proving they are going to be real title contenders.

Initially, however, it did not look like it was going to be Gloucester's day, with Mark Cueto silencing the normally vocal Gloucester Shed with a third-minute try. Charlie Hodgson was not having a good day with the boot, though, and was clearly rattled by the home crowd. The England international missed the conversion, as well as a penalty minutes later.

Fly-half Ludovic Mercier broke Gloucester's duck after 15 minutes to convert two penalties, and the home side then went on to test the Sharks' defence.

The visitors had looked like they had done enough to keep the lead at the break, but three minutes into injury time Gloucester's determination pulled them through, Henry Paul scoring.

That first try proved to be decisive for Gloucester, and the Cherry and Whites scored three tries in the space of just 10 minutes.

Up-and-coming youngster James Forrester scored the second try, then set up the next, breaking magnificently through the Sale midfield to pave the way for a Tom Beim try. Mercier converted, before summer signing Thinus Delport scored his first league try to give Gloucester a comfortable 22-point cushion. Flanker Jake Boer and Forrester then added two further tries to round off an impressive first home game of the season.

Gloucester: Paul; Delport, Fanolua, Todd, Beim; Mercier, Gomarsall; Woodman, Azam, Vickery, Pearce, Cornwell, Boer, Hazell, Paramore.

Sale: Robinson; Cueto, Baxendell, Deane, Hanley; Hodgson, Redpath; Yates, Marais, Stewart, Jones, Schofield, Sanderson, Pinkerton, Anglesea.

Referee: D Pearson (Northumberland).