Late Johnny Leota try seals bonus point win for Sale

A 79th minute try from Sale centre Johnny Leota secured a bonus-point victory over Pau that all but guarantees the Sharks' place in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals.

Andrei Ostrikov, Nev Edwards and Will Addison ran in first-half tries at Stade du Hameau to put the Aviva Premiership club on course for a handsome victory.

Pau offered substantially more resistance in the second-half, however, and it was not until the closing seconds that Sale were able to run in the all-important fourth try through Leota.

England fly-half Danny Cipriani landed two conversions and a penalty in the 27-3 victory that keeps Sale just two points off Pool Two leaders Newport Gwent Dragons.

The two sides will meet at the AJ Bell Stadium on Thursay for the prize of group winners and a home quarter-final after the Dragons overcame Castres 31-18 at Rodney Parade.

However, the 18 and 20 points previously amassed by Sale and Newport respectively means that whoever loses next week's clash has in effect already guaranteed one of the three quarter-final spots reserved for the best three pool runners up.

Tries from Hallam Amos, Nic Cudd and Elliot Dee helped the Welsh region into a 21-3 lead before Castres staged a fightback that was effectively ended when replacement lock Alexander Bias was shown a red card in the 58th minute for making a tackle with his head.

Wing Ashton Hewitt brought up the bonus-point with eight minutes remaining.

Meanwhile, Edinburgh now sit at the top of Pool Five following a 23-0 home victory over Agen.

Magnus Bradbury, Mike Cowman, Greig Tonks and Hamish Watson went over for tries.

Tonks added an early penalty to his try in the win.