A FINE second-half fightback earned Sale Sharks the consolation of a try bonus point as the new Premiership season kicked off with an action-packed encounter at Wasps that the hosts won 50-35.

Wasps' scrum-half Dan Robson became only the 13th player in Premiership history to score four tries with the hosts running in seven scores in total.

But after a tough opening 40 minutes, that saw the visitors 21-0 down at one stage, Sale showed great grit and composure to score a remarkable five tries themselves, with debutants Faf de Klerk and Josh Strauss both crossing the whitewash.

Byron McGuigan, Ben Curry and Denny Solomona also touched down for Sale and the Sharks had every cause to regret not leaving the Midlands with at least a second losing bonus point.

Director of rugby Steve Diamond and his coaching staff will now hope they can respond in the first home game of the season tomorrow night against Newcastle.

That will be the first time new skipper Will Addison will lead the team out at the AJ Bell Stadium.

On his appointment as captain recently, Addison said: "It is a huge honour to captain the club I have grown up at as a professional.

"I am excited by the challenge and looking forward to leading out the boys.”