Gloucester broke their miserable run of nine consecutive Gallagher Premiership defeats with a morale-boosting 32-20 win over Sale at Kingsholm.
Sale dropped into the Challenge Cup after being brushed aside by La Rochelle as the French giants kept alive their bid for a hat-trick of Champions Cup titles.
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.
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