Luke McAlister scored a try on his home debut as Sale Sharks beat Bayonne 32-10 to put one foot in the quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup.

Four tries in a second-half onslaught from the tournament favourites secured the bonus-point win at Edgeley Park.

Spain wing Oriol Ripol scored twice, France full back Julien Laharrague dived over, as did Kiwi McAlister, as the international class of the two-time Challenge Cup winners told over 80 minutes.

But Sale were made to work for their win by a side they thrashed 51-12 last weekend.

The French side had the majority of first-quarter possession but as the Sale pack began to impose themselves on the match, penalties came and Charlie Hodgson delivered on 20 and 25 minutes.

Bayonne responded positively and got the try they deserved when hooker David Roumieu, who moments later saw a yellow card for a push on Sébastien Chabal, was driven over after 36 minutes, but Manny Edmonds' conversion was wide to leave his side trailing by a solitary point at the interval.

Sale woke up in the second period and had secured maximum points within 25 minutes of the restart with Hodgson also clearing two conversions.

A late consolation score for Benoît Marfaing got the French team in double figures but the defeat ends their chance of quarter-final qualification.