The Amlin Challenge Cup got underway on Thursday and we have seen five fantastic matches already over the first two evenings and here is a round up of the opening encounters.

Newcastle Falcons 22-16 Bourgoin

Luke Eves put in a powerhouse performance to guide Newcastle Falcons to a much needed victory over Bourgoin in Pool 3.

Eves made 13 carries during the match and terrorised the Bourgoin defence in the first half. His performance earned him the Amlin man of the match verdict from former British & Irish Lions and Scotland legend Scott Hastings.

Bourgoin held the upper hand in the opening exchanges and led 6-0 after 10 minutes thanks to the reliable boot of outside half Sebastien Laloo. But his opposite number, Jeremy Manning, changed the momentum of the another game midway through the first-half.

Moments after missing a penalty Manning rounded off a sweeping move with his first try for his new club after his summer switch from Munster. That score was followed five minutes later by another debut try.

This time it was hooker Joe Graham who marked his first start for the Falcons with a close range try that Manning converted. That completed a turn-around in the score that gave the home side a six point lead they took into the break.

A Manning penalty stretched the home lead and sparked a sustained period of pressure than culminated with a third try from right wing Keith Fielden. Manning's 18-year-old replacement, Joel Hodgson, added the conversion to make it 22-9.

The French visitors threw everything at the Falcons in the final quarter and Jeremy Gondrand crossed for a try from a close range line-out. Laloo, who had added a third penalty in the 56th minute, converted and Bourgoin pressed hard for the score to level matters.

Stade Francais 57-6 Crociati Rugby

Stade Francais got their European campaign off to a flying start with a 57-6 victory over Crociati rugby.

Ollie Phillips ran in two tries as Stade Francais Paris gave new coach Michael Cheika a European boost at Stade Charlety.

The Parisians scored nine tries in total as they brushed aside the spirited Italians side I Crociati Rugby. The minnows found themselves 26-3 adrift at the break and then shipped a further 31 points in the second half before finally losing 57-6.

All the home tries came from their potent back division and Phillips' fellow wing Martin Rodriguez also grabbed two tries.

Cheika's last two European campaigns saw him steer Leinster to their first Heineken Cup title in 2009 and the semi-finals last season. Now he has his eyes fixed firmly on more Euro glory with his new team in Pool 4.

As well as nine tries, Stade also had six conversion from their South African scrum half Noel Oeshig.

Agen 26-19 Gloucester

In Pool 5 Opeti Fonua scored twice for Agen as the French side completed an emphatic turnaround to beat Gloucester at the Stade Alfred Armandie.

The Cherry and Whites looked on course for a valuable draw with the scores leveled before the Tongan No8 crashed over for his second try on the stroke of full time.

Gloucester had lead 13-3 at the break but Agen fought their way back into the game in the second half, the visitors struggling with the loss of two players to the sin bin.

Brive 32-6 Petrarca Rugby

Former Heineken Cup champions Brive claimed all the points on offer in their Pool Two encounter against Petrarca Rugby at the Stadium Municipal.

Mathias Atayi got the opening try of the game on 13 minutes after Julien Caminati and Tim Walsh had exchanged early penalties.

Walsh kicked a drop goal to reduce the deficit but that was the last score of the game for the Italians.

After the break Caminati kicked another penalty before crossing for a try of his own after 57 minutes. Centre Regis Lespinas and Viliam Waqaseduadua added tries late on, as the game finished 32-6.

Sale Sharks 97-11 Cetransa El Salvador

Double Amlin Challenge Cup Champions Sale have started this year’s competition with their biggest ever win in European rugby, scoring fifteen tries against Spanish champions Cetransa El Salvador at Edgeley Park.

Tom Brady crossed for a hat-trick with Fergus Mulchrone and Nick MacLeod each grabbing a brace. MacLeod also kicked eight conversions to equal Charlie Hodgson’s club record of 26 points in a match.

El Salvador took an early lead in Manchester through centre Jaike Carter, but the Spaniards have not won a European tie in six years and Sale soon showed their dominance scoring three tries in the space of six minutes.