HEINEKEN CUP POOL 3 Biarritz (14) 31 Tries: Marlu 2, Tonita, Brusque Cons: Yachvili 4 Pens: Yachvili Sale (3) 3 Pen: Van Straaten Att: 7,000

Sale Sharks suffered a heavy defeat as Biarritz proved far too strong at the Parc des Sports Aguilera.

Sale travelled with high hopes of success after last weekend's narrow win over the Cardiff Blues, but their French hosts scored four tries and claimed a bonus point.

Former Test winger Jimmy Marlu stunned Sale with a try after only 46 seconds, and with Dimitri Yachvili successfully converting, the visitors were 7-0 down and left chasing the game.

Lock and man of the match Ovidiu Tonita scored for the home side in the 26th minute before the Sharks finally troubled the scorers with a Braam van Straaten penalty goal to take the score to 14-3 at half-time.

Yachvili added a penalty goal in the 46th minute, and the Sharks' slim hopes disappeared when Biarritz fullback Nicolas Brusque scored on the hour mark.

We made a few silly errors, but we produced some reasonable play at times Jim Mallinder Sale coach

Marlu's second try earned the home side a bonus point as the Sharks' defence went from poor to non-existent and they will need to lift their game in their next outing against Leinster.

Biarritz: N Brusque; P Bidabe, G Bousses, M Stcherbina, J Marlu; J Peyrelongue, D Yachvili; E Menieu, P Balan, D Avril, D Couzinet, J Thion, O Tonita, D Chouchan, M Baget.
Replacements: D Minassian, M Fitzgerald, H Manent, C Milheres, L Mazas, M Gaitan, J-B Gobelet.

Sale Sharks: V Going; M Cueto, B van Straaten, G Bond, J Robinson; C Hodgson, N Walshe; A Sheridan, M Cairns, B Stewart, D Scxhofield, I Fullarton, J White, Chris Jones, A Sanderson (capt).
Replacements: A Titterrell, S Turner, C Day, M Lund, C Mayor, J Baxendell, R Wigglesworth.

Referee: Donal Courtney (Ireland)