Super Sale smash the Grasshoppers

SALE FC are showing all the right characteristics in their fight for promotion as they romped to an impressive nine-try, bonus-point win against Preston Grasshoppers. Despite having already confirmed their play-off spot, the dominant victory gives Sale momentum heading into their play-off match against the runnerup in National 2 South.

They were given a fright by rock-bottom Grasshoppers but four tries in ten minutes allowed the hosts to ease to a seventh straight home win.

Early tries from Gareth Rawlings and Paolo Odogwu gave the home side an early lead.

Preston responded with quick-fire tries from Conor Trueman and Jacob Browne with Lewis Allen’s pair of conversions giving the away side an unlikely 14-12 lead after 22 minutes.

Nevertheless, Sale restored a healthy lead before the break with Joe Kelly first powering over before Thomas Davenport touched down on the stroke of half-time.

Full-back McGovern then added both conversions to complete the first half scoring, 26-14.

Sale then ran rampant with Odogwu first grabbing his second before Sam Stelmaszek, Laurence Sanderson, Ciaran Connolly and Matt Postlethwaite taking the total to nine.

McGovern completed the scoring with four further conversions, taking his personal tally to 14.