WATCH: Highlights of the Bulls, Sharks and Stormers’ Champions Cup debuts

The Bulls and Sharks recorded victories in their maiden European Champions Cup matches, while the Stormers suffered a disappointing defeat.

Champions Cup highlights:

Sharks 39 Harlequins 31:

Bulls 42 Lyon 36

Clermont 24 Stormers 14

SA European Cup review: Round one

The Sharks earned their maiden Champions Cup victory with a thrilling 39-31 win over Harlequins in Durban on Saturday afternoon.

Makazole Mapimpi notched a brace for the hosts in a five-try performance for the Sharks, while Bongi Mbonambi, Werner Kok and Boeta Chamberlain also crossed the whitewash in a historic afternoon as South Africa’s franchises officially entered the Champions Cup.

At one stage it looked as if the Sharks would cruise to victory, but a red card to Ox Nche turned it into a nervy affair before a late try to Chamberlain finally sealed the result.

The Sharks will next travel to France to take on Union Bordeaux-Begles in round two on Friday evening, while Harlequins play host to French opposition themselves when they welcome Racing 92 to Twickenham Stoop next Sunday.

Sharks – Tries: Bongi Mbonambi, Makazole Mapimpi (2), Werner Kok, Boeta Chamberlain. Conversions: Curwin Bosch (4). Penalties: Curwin Bosch (2).
Harlequins – Tries: Josh Bassett (2), William Evans, Andre Esterhuizen (2). Conversions: Tommaso Allan(2), Will Edwards. Penalty: Will Edwards

Meanwhile, the Stormers surrendered an 11-point half-time lead as resurgent Clermont side came back to clinch another home victory in their Champions Cup match on Saturday night.

Having led 14-3 at the break, the Stormers were blown away in the second half, ultimately slipping to a 24-14 loss.

Clermont – Tries: Alex Newsome, Alivereti Raka. Conversion: Jules Plisson. Penalties: Plisson (4). Drop goal: Plisson
Stormers – Try: Deon Fourie. Penalties: Manie Libbok (2), Clayton Blommetjies.

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Finally, the Bulls held off a fightback to claim a bonus-point win against Lyon on their Champions Cup debut in Pretoria on Saturday night.

The hosts enjoyed a big lead at one point, and although the French tourists fought back bravely at the death, but Bulls held on for a hard-fought 42-36 victory.

Bulls — Tries: Sibongile Novuka, Bernard van der Linde (2), Nizaam Carr, Stravino Jacobs, Chris Smith. Conversions: Morne Steyn (6).
Lyon — Tries: Arno Botha (2), Liam Coltman, Ethan Dumortier, Kyle Godwin. Conversions: Leo Berdeu (4). Penalty: Berdeu.