The West Country side put themselves on the path to a first European win for seven years with a first-half blitz of tries. Jack Wallace crossed, before Tom Varndell became the record Challenge Cup try-scorer. Watisoni Vuti got one back for Pau, but Billy Searle and Luke Arscott bagged the bonus before the break. Thretton Palamo and Chris Brooker completed the victory with second-half scores to lift Bristol off the foot of Pool 4.

Bristol got off to the perfect start in their quest to get off the mark in the European Rugby Challenge Cup. Flying wing Jack Wallace made the most of some space to race past the Pau defence to score. Billy Searle could not add the conversion, but it was about to get even better for the hosts.

Tom Varndell created Challenge Cup history to put his side 10-0 up after 17 minutes. The former England wing used some silky footwork to score and take himself ahead of Richard Haughton as the leading try scorer in Challenge Cup history with 21.

But Searle could not convert again and Pau were back in it moments later. Watisoni Vuti punched a hole in the Bristol defence to race in, with Brandon Fajardo converting to make it 10-7. But it did not take long for the hosts to add their third try though as David Lemi raced 40 metres downfield to setup fly-half Searle.

And the bonus-point was wrapped up before half-time when Luke Arscott crashed over at the back of a driving lineout to score. Searle added the extras to make it 22-7 at half-time. And they continued their try-scoring exploits after the break when Thretton Palamo scored a stunning solo try from 40 metres out. Chris Brooker put the gloss on the victory with a close range score before being driven over for his second. Thibault Daubagna grabbed a late consolation but it was too little too late.