Harlequins moved to the top of the Premiership with a bonus-point win over Newcastle, while Bristol ended Sales' long winning home run.
Northampton mounted a stunning fightback to beat Sale 21-17 and moved to the top of the Gallagher Premiership table with a sixth successive victory.
Clinical Ulster secured a big victory against Racing 92 in the Champions Cup while Bath edged out Cardiff and holders La Rochelle lost again.
Sale produced a superb second-half show to open their Champions Cup campaign with a 28-5 victory over Stade Francais at AJ Bell Stadium.
Marcus Smith won the duel between England's fly-halves in waiting but it was the contribution of Harlequins' pack that underpinned a 36-3 win over Sale.
George Ford kicked a late penalty as Sale extended their lead at the top of the Gallagher Premiership to five points with a 11-9 win against Bath.
Tom Curry will miss the entire Six Nations and most likely the rest of the season after Sale revealed he must undergo surgery for a hip injury.
Bath hung on to beat Bristol 20-19 as their near neighbours almost pulled off the upset; Sale go top of Gallagher Premiership with 40-22 victory over Newcastle.
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