Sale stay in promotion hunt after comeback

Sale FC .................. 20pts S Leicester .......... 14pts

SALE FC’s promotion bid was strengthened by a narrow victory against South Leicester in a combative National League Two North clash at Heywood Road

The home side trailed 7-5 at the break following an abrasive opening 40 but through their dominant pack, fought back to win, outscoring the away side by three tries to two.

It was the north west outfit’s fourth consecutive victory, which pleased Sale Director of Rugby Jonathan Keep.

He said: “I’m delighted with the win, it’s the first one we’ve ever managed to get against South Leicester.

“We’re obviously a little disappointed not to get the try-scoring bonus point, and I thought we needed to be a bit more patient at times.

“But overall I’m very pleased that we’ve managed to maintain our form from the end of the year into early 2017.

“We can now go to Luctonians next Saturday full of confidence as we try to keep this momentum going.”

Nevertheless, it didn’t start well for the hosts as winger Blane Howe opened the try-scoring for South Leicester, finishing superbly in the corner after 15 minutes.

Rickie Aley then landed the touchline conversion to give the visitors a sevenpoint lead.

South Leicester were looking to do the double over Sale after beating them 42-39 earlier in the campaign.

But the home side were hungry for revenge, hitting back before the break as replacement prop Tom Ailes crashed over from close range following some superb work from centre Jack Moorhouse to leave Sale 5-7 down at the turn.

Man of the match Oliver Longmore added Sale’s second try two minutes after the restart to give the home side the lead for the first time.

Liam McGovern then added the extras to give the hosts a five-point advantage.

The visitors then levelled the scores six minutes later when flanker Nicholas Cairns finished off a free-flowing move in the corner.

Aley was again on target with the touchline conversion to give the visitors an unexpected lead, 14-12.

The reliable boot of McGovern put the hosts back in front from a penalty before powerhouse centre Scott Rawlings sealed the win after peeling off the back of the rolling maul to touch down and make it 2014.

Despite the narrow defeat, South Leicester Chairman Wayne Marsden was thrilled with the effort and commitment of his side who came away with a losing bonus point.

“That was a very competitive match, and we give it everything,” he said after the game.

“If you had told me that we’d come away to secondin-the-table Sale and leave with a losing bonus point I would have been over the moon.

“But fair play to Sale, they have a powerful pack that proved too much for us in the end.”