Sale edge Sedge with McGovern the decider

Sale FC .................. 25pts Sedgley Park .... 24pts

IN an absolute cracker of a local derby, Sale and Sedgley Park slugged it out for the duration with the final result still in the balance right up to the final whistle.

Both sides crossed for three tries, but in the end it was the boot of Liam McGovern that eventually guided his side through, although the hosts had to defend their line in the final ten minutes as the visitors threw everything they had to come back into it.

“We are delighted with the result but this was a tremendous game in which to be involved, with both sides committed right through to the final whistle,” said Sale coach Jonathan Keep.

“We knew that Sedge were breathing down our necks in third place so it was good to open up a gap over them.”

Sale made the best possible start with a try from man-of-the-match Jamie Bache, a penalty into touch followed by a catch and drive getting the flanker over, with McGovern adding the extras.

Sedge hit back with a penalty from Steve Collins and with the visitors’ pack putting pressure on the opposition line the referee awarded a penalty try, Collins’ conversion affording a 7-10 lead.

But Sedgley kept giving unnecessary penalties away and as with Sale’s opening try, a penalty into touch and a catchand drive created the opportunity for Chris Townsend to nip over close to the posts for his side's second.

Sale came again, and with Jack Moorhouse taken out chasing a kick ahead by Chris Johnson, a penalty to touch was driven over, Gareth Rawlings claiming the honours for a 19-10 halt-time lead.

Sale undoubtedly had the better of the first half but the second belonged in large part to the visitors as Rob Holloway replaced the injured Collins.

Within minutes of the restart Matt Riley broke through midfield and with Holloway in support the scrum-half went in under the posts, Riley kicking the conversion.

Almost from the restart Jonny Matthews broke through to cross for his side’s third, Riley’s conversion putting Sedge ahead for the second time.

With over half an hour remaining and just five points behind, Sale went hunting for a winner but the Sedgely defence proved too tight.

A penalty from McGovern made it a two-point game and with both sides totally committed it took a penalty with ten minutes remaining to turn the game in Sale’s favour.

Sedge tried everything to come back but Sale, with some desperate defence, managed to hang on.

And Sedgley Park coach Dean Schofield admits small margins were key.

“This was a great game of rugby which could have gone either way,” he said.

“Sale certainly dominated the first half but I thought we had done enough in the second to take the win.

“However rugby is often about small margins and those two penalties from McGovern proved crucial.”