Wales World Cup captain Gareth Thomas touched down twice in the first half as Cardiff Blues got their EDF Energy Cup campaign off to a winning start with an impressive 32-15 victory over Sale.

The Welsh side outscored their English visitors by five tries to two and had the game wrapped by the interval after a superb first half in which they blew Sale off the park.

Jason Spice and skipper Xavier Rush also touched down for the Blues as they opened a commanding 27-3 half-time lead, and although Sale responded with tries from Lee Thomas and Rory Lamont in the second half, the result was never in doubt.

Impressive wing Tom James completed the scoring for the Blues when he gathered a Nicky Robinson cross-kick in the final minute to wrap up a good night's work for coach Dai Young's side.

"He (Thomas) was playing at 12, his favourite position, and he showed what he brings to this club," said Young.

"It's four years to the next World Cup so if Gareth wants to go on with Wales, he should.

"We don't want to throw in a load of kids, we need old heads like 'Alfie' to help the youngsters come through."

Sale were unable to cope with the speed and width of the Blues game in the first half and by the time their defence had figured the Welsh side's tactics the game was all over.

Spice opened the scoring as early as the fourth minute when he supported a break by lock Deniol Jones.

Lee Thomas responded with a penalty for Sale 10 minutes later but the visitors were then stunned by two superb scores by Gareth Thomas in the 21st and 26th minutes.

Rush scored the Blues fourth try three minutes taking a pass out of the tackle by full-back Ben Blair, who had been hauled down just short by Charlie Hodgson.

Sale upped their efforts in the second half and the scores stayed at 27-3 until Lee Thomas finished off a prolonged move by the English side, in which Julien Laharrague featured strongly, with a converted try in the 67th minute.

Scotland wing Lamont then showed he had lost none of his World Cup form when he broke two tackles to race in from 60m for Sale's second with a minute left on the clock.

But the Blues made sure they finished on a high note when James rounded off the scoring with a well-deserved try at the death.

In the evening's other match, Saracens defeated strugglers Leeds Carnegie 46-28 in a game that featured 10 tries.

The London side lead by only 13-8 at the break following a converted try from Rodd Penney and two penalties from former Leeds fly-half Gordon Ross.

Leeds were very much in the game at the interval thanks to an Erik Lund touch down and an Alberto Di Bernardo penalty.

But Saracens moved clear in the second half thanks to five further tries from Craig McMullen, Penney, Edd Thrower, Fiji's World Cup star Mosese Rauluni and Kevin Sorrell.

Leeds contributed to an entertaining match with three second half tries of their own through USA prop Mike MacDonald, Scott Armstrong and Apolosi Satala, but at 39-18 down at the hour mark they never looked like winning the game.

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport