The opening game of the Heineken Cup took place before a record crowd, and with a good two thousand of that crowd being Irish and in full voice the home advantage could have proved slight.

The first points on the board were from Charlie Hodgson's boot, after Munster conceeded a penalty. The game looked eerily familiar - last week against Wasps was a ferocious match for the forwards and a quiet one for the backs. Sale Sharks' new found ability to force penalties in the scrum, ruck and maul was once again evident. Hodgson's fellow Lions number 10 Ronan O'Gara kicked a penalty of his own, and shortly after fluffed a drop goal by some distance. The pack forced another penalty and Hodgson kicked it to make the scores 6-3.

It looked like the game would progress in much the same way until Ignazio Fernandez-Lobbe got the yellow card, and Munster immediately took full advantage, their strong pack drove over and scored a try, converted by O'Gara.

Sale attacked deep into Munster territory, with a try often looking close, but came away with only another penalty. Halftime came with the scores lookig ominous - 9-10. Time for some stern talking.

Despite an early O'Gara penalty, bringing the scores to 9-13, the second half was a brighter affair.Then the tide turned. Munster had a man of their own sent off, thier first half try-scorer Sheahan. Hodgson returned the compliment: 12-13.

Sale sent wave after wave of men at the Munster line, with scrums and line outs aplenty, until finally the ball flew out of a scrum and Martens leapt on it for a typically opportunistic scrum half try. With Hodgson's conversion the scoreboard read 19-13 and the Sale massive were in full voice again.

Sebastien Chabal, Charlie Hodgson and Jason Robinson conspired to make the victory unassailable. Chabal destroyed a Munsterman in a tackle, forcing him to knock on, Hodgson kicked the ball 70 or 80 metres down the pitch towards the Munster tryline and Robinson chased. It was only the bounce that was a worry at this point - Robinson was not going to let anyone out-run him on his own pitch. He tapped the ball a little about 10 metres out to aid control and touched down for the try that sealed victory and denied Ulster a losing bonus point. Classic stuff from Sale; 24-13. Another Hodgson penalty and the score was 27-13. Munster were class opposition however, and perhaps by rights the scores should have been closer. The return match will be a very, very tough one.