Bristol will be happy. Nobody else will. Neutrals, alas, will be the most upset, traumatized even. There was a good try, scored by Semi Radradra, whose on-time introduction was less of a tactical masterstroke, more of a humanitarian gesture for those watching, so appalling had the action been so far. But when the final whistle sounded, the crowd woke up to news that Bristol had secured their first victory here since 2017.

Radradra’s try means they will regain a one-point lead at Ashton Gate on Friday for the second leg. Rarely has a full-time whistle been more keenly desired, but that effectively only meant half-time in the draw. It was perhaps the most depressing thing of all.

The two-legged nature of the deal had prompted Pat Lam to leave Charles Piutau and Radradra on the bench and, boy, was the game poorer for it. Rarely has a match required the notion of “finisher” so much. And the sooner the game could end, the better. The score on the hour was 6-3, which was hugely flattering in those first 60 minutes.

For a match report to be reduced to discussing individual penalties, one can hope to say more about the match than the writer. Even indulging in every scoring incident of the first 40 minutes with a description would be flattering too far.

Suffice it to say, two Rob du Preez penalties opened up a 6-0 lead for the home side in the opening 10 minutes, a break down the left by Arron Reed worthy of mention at least in the build-up from the first.

If only Sale could have involved Reed more. The youngster has real pace and, until Radradra intervened, provided the only breaks in the game for mediocrity.

Otherwise, we talk about violations or other breakdown for the rest of the points of the half. As with any variety, you had to face the sky, from where the water was cascading for a little while, to change rugby balls.

Presumably unable to take much more, Lam introduced Piutau for the second half. Early indications were encouraging, when some footwork from the latter freed the runaway Harry Randall, but England international Kyle Sinckler threw in another ground pass, before England international Dave Attwood did the same. End of crossing.

It would in no way distort to offer this thumbnail as a summary of the first hour or so. Except for the good Piutau piece that triggered it, that would give the wrong impression of quality. Even Randall, not just an England international but the real England scrum-half, took to throwing no passes at anyone.

So Lam introduced Radradra for the final quarter. Finally, we had something. It came from an error, of course – Simon Hammersley knocking down the last high ball – but from the scrum Piers O’Conor sprang Radradra into Sale’s midfield. The Fijian’s finish was unquestionably of the highest quality.

Thus, Sale found himself 10-6 with 10 minutes to play. When offered the option of a penalty kick with five minutes left – a breakdown foul or otherwise – Du Preez opted to go on goal to bring them within a point. They certainly didn’t look like they were scoring any other way.

“Therein lies the beauty of the double-header,” said Sale’s director of rugby Alex Sanderson. “Patience is a virtue; anger is a gift. Any frustration or anger we have, we can all exercise. Ride Friday night.