Richard Hill, the Bristol head coach, had urged his bottom-of-the-table team to defy the doom-mongers who have made them favourites for relegation after losing to Bath and Harlequins, but despite a much-improved performance it was Sale Sharks who sneaked away with the points at the Memorial Stadium last night and moved to the top of the Guinness Premiership.

The result did not reflect Bristol’s superiority. However, the lack of a real threat behind the scrum meant that they were unable to make the most of their dominance and Sale’s propensity, especially in the second half, to kick away possession rather than trust the talent at their disposal. Bristol were little better in that regard, not least after a change at half-time, when Adrian Jarvis, the fly half, was replaced and Ed Barnes moved inside from centre. At least they earned a losing bonus point, their first of the season, and showed progress that pleased their coach.

“It was a big improvement and that sets the marker now for the rest of the season,” Hill said. “We lacked physicality in our first two games, and we now face Newcastle away, which is a match I think we need to win. It is about getting that first win now.”

After a penalty apiece in the first half, Sale edged ahead with two further long-range kicks from Luke McAlister, the first of which was awarded after Jason Hobson was adjudged to have collapsed a scrum when it was Andrew Sheridan who was clearly under pressure.

Bristol spent much of the final quarter on the attack but they could not penetrate a Sale defence that has yet to concede a try this season, instead having only a penalty by Barnes to show for their endeavours.

Bristol, who found themselves on the wrong end of the decision-making of David Rose, the referee, in the first half, could have been a try behind in the opening minutes. Dwayne Peel tapped a quick penalty and made 50 yards before finding Mathew Tait and Rory Lamont in support. Only scrambled defence kept the line intact.

With Dan Ward-Smith leading by example and Hobson keeping a close eye on a muted Sébastien Chabal, Bristol showed a commitment that had been absent in their past two defeats but a few chances were wasted by snatched handling. Bristol’s anger at Rose’s officiating began to boil over. After a fifth penalty was awarded against them for apparently going to ground at the breakdown, Barnes kicked the ball away and was sent to the sin-bin. McAlister kicked the goal. By now Bristol were seething. Graeme Beveridge was impeded by Charlie Hodgson when chasing a kick ahead but Rose waved play on.

It got worse. Neil Brew orchestrated a sweeping attack and Bristol were desperate for quick ball ten metres out. Sébastien Bruno, however, blatantly strayed offside to kill the move. Rose awarded the penalty but it should have been a yellow card. The livewire Beveridge tapped and crossed the line only for the referee to bring back play. Jarvis converted to level the scores.

Chris Jones then knocked on under the posts as Sale counter-attacked but the half ended with Bristol on the attack and ruing not having made more of their supremacy.