Eight-try Sale FC start the season in style
The 2026/27 National One season began with a trip to Berkshire to take on a Rams side who included nine debutants in their lineup.
With the sun blazing, Sale opened their account for the season as early as the 6th minute when Mark Dixon strode in after good work from Freddie Reader. 0-5
The two sides exchanged possession and territory over the next 15 minutes before Tom Walsh seared down the wing, offloaded to Daffyd Rees who then timed his pass perfectly for Joe Green to grab his first try; James Mitchell added the extras on debut. 0-12
The hosts reduced the arrears a few minutes later when Zach Clow collected a clever cross-kick from Ross McKay and the latter then added a fine conversion. 7-12
However, Sale hit twice in two minutes before the break; Walsh scored the first after a mini-break from Dixon, and Corbin Thunder the second as he handed off tacklers in midfield before an acrobatic swan dive over the whitewash with Mitchell converting. HT 7-24
The Dogs, resplendent in their new away kit, started the second 40 as they finished the first, scoring two more tries through Green and Reader after fine play from Walsh and Dixon respectively; Mitchell converted the latter. 7-36
If Sale thought that put the game to bed, they did not foresee a strong fight back from Rams who scored 3 unconverted tries in twelve minutes from rolling mauls; Johnny Ireland grabbing 2 and Sam Stirling the other. 22-36
A response was needed and came in the form of a Pete Vickers try, burying over from a metre out after several phases from the forwards; Mitchell was on target again. 22-43
The home side continued to throw everything at the game but the Dogs put the icing on the cake with the final play of the game as Walsh made plenty of ground to set up the impressive Green for his hat-trick; Mitchell took Sale to a half-century of points from the tee. FT 22-50
A fine start to the campaign for Sale with plenty of electric attacking rugby against a Rams side who never gave up.