Amlin Challenge Cup :Cavalieri Estra picked up the first Italian win on the opening weekend of European action as they downed last season's semi-finalists Connacht 23-21 in a thrilling game.
A long-range try from South African-born lock Wouter Moore eventually proved the difference between the two sides, although Connacht outside half Ian Keatley hit the post with a last-gasp drop goal to regain the lead for the Irish side.
Niccolo Tempestini also bagged a try for the Italians with Keatley and Bernie Upton crashing over for the away side.
Amlin Challenge CupChristian Lewis-Pratt inspired Leeds Carnegie to their first win of the season with a 23-9 triumph over Bucuresti Oaks in Pool Four.
The 19-year-old steered Carnegie at a rain-sodden Stadionul Arcul de Triumf with an eight-point haul before Henry Fa'afili put the game beyond doubt with an injury-time try.
The pack also played their part and were rewarded for their dominance with a second-half penalty try.
Montpellier got off to a perfect start in Pool Three with a 20-13 win over Exeter at Sandy Park.
An early Dimitri Pelo converted try put the visitors in the driving seat as Exeter struggled to get a hold on the game.
Montpellier fly-half Raphael Lagarde kept the scoreboard ticking over to give them a 13-6 half-time lead, the Chiefs only points coming from the boot of Ryan Davis.
Seta Tuilevuka struck with a devastating try shortly after the interval to blow the hosts away.
But the Chiefs came back and scored a try of their own thanks to Chad Slade in the final minutes. Davis kept his cool and converted to snatch an unlikely losing bonus point.
Elsewhere, La Rochelle recorded a 38-3 victory over Rovigo in Pool Five. The visitors also picked up a bonus point after crossing five times in the game while the referee added a further five-pointer.
On Friday night, Sale Sharks secured their biggest ever points haul in European competition with an emphatic 97-11 win over Cetransa El Salvador.
Tom Brady scored a hat-trick of tries while Fergus Mulchrone grabbed two as Sharks hit the Spanish champions for 15 tries at Edgeley Park.
Fly-half Nick Macleod also crossed twice and kicked eight conversions to equal Charlie Hodgson's club record of 26 points in a match.
Brive stand second in Pool Two behind Sale after comfortably beating Petrarca Rugby 32-6 in France.
Elsewhere, Gloucester were denied a valuable draw following a controversial last-gasp try by Agen gave the latter a 26-19 victory.
Tongan number eight Opeti Fonua crashed over in the final seconds with the scores locked at 19-19, to complete an emphatic turnaround for Agen.
The try, awarded by match official Neil Patterson of Scotland, left Gloucester fuming after Fonua appeared to lose control of the ball as he crossed the line.
That was Fonua's second of the game as Gloucester let slip a 13-3 half-time lead at Stade Armandie.
On Thursday night, Newcastle survived a late scare to triumph 22-16 in their first-ever meeting with Bourgoin.
Tries from Jeremy Manning, Joe Graham and Luke Fielden gave the Falcons victory at Kingston Park.
Jeremy Gondrand's score ensured a tense finale but some determined defence prevented the French side turning the game around.
In the night's other game, Stade Francais hammered Rugby Parma 57-6.
Argentine Martin Rodriguez scored two of their nine tries as the eased to the top of Pool Four with a bonus-point victory.