Ben Foden proved an inspired deputy for England wing Mark Cueto with a clinical hat-trick as Sale kick-started their Heineken Cup campaign with a bonus-point victory against Italian minnows Calvisano.

The 21-year-old scrum-half was handed his chance on the right flank due to Cueto nursing an ankle knock and made the most of the opportunity.

The academy product claimed a neat first-half brace and his hat-trick score in the 54th minute handed the Sharks their fourth try and secured a potentially priceless bonus point.

Six further second-half tries confirmed Sale's dominance and went a long way towards erasing the pain of last week's agonising 17-16 injury time loss to the Ospreys in their Pool Three opener.

Suddenly the Sharks' prospects now seem a lot healthier ahead of their crucial double-header against Stade Francais in December.

Philippe Saint-Andre made several changes from the defeat at the Liberty Stadium, with Jason Robinson named on the bench and Daniel Larrechea slotting in at full-back.

Calvisano arrived in Stockport without a Heineken Cup victory in four years and an initially encouraging start was undermined in the fourth minute when Charlie Hodgson, who this week signed a new four-year deal with the club, landed a penalty from 45 metres.

Opposite number Andrew Scanavacca then failed to convert a difficult penalty from near the right touchline.

The miss proved costly in the 14th minute as Sale doubled their lead when Hodgson claimed another three-pointer.

That served to ease home nerves and in the 17th minute, sheer brute force saw Sale's pack drive forward from the edge of the visitors' 22 and allowed Dean Schofield to touch down under a clutch of bodies.

Hodgson added the extras and Sale began to move the gears with some delightful handling from Hodgson and Larrechea allowing Foden to cross in the right corner.

That 25th-minute score, converted by Hodgson, put Sale firmly in command at 18-0 and their third try, shortly after the half-hour mark, was indicative of their control.

Foden was on hand to finish clinically from close range and Hodgson was unlucky to see his conversion attempt rebound off a post.

Calvisano refused to surrender and after their centre, James Downey, received a yellow card, former Leeds wing Roland De Marigny landed a penalty and then capitalised on some slack marking to score under the posts on the stroke of half-time.

De Marigny also claimed the first points of the second half with his second penalty, but Calvisano began to tire as the half went on and Sale duly capitalised.

Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe powered over to mark his return from injury in style and then Chris Bell sprinted through a gap in the visitors' rearguard to hand Sale their sixth try.

Sebastien Chabal, Robinson and Chris Mayor then found space to cross the line in the closing stages to put the gloss on a powerful second-half display from Sale.

Hodgson converted all six scores to hand his side an ultimately handsome victory and ensure their European campaign is now firmly up and running.