On a blustery but dry day, Sale FC took on mid-table Darlington Mowden Park at Heywood Road looking to stay in the race at the top of National League 1.
The visitors started the game in confident fashion and were soon ahead when a kick from Callum Pascoe squirmed through the hands of Nev Edwards allowing Oliver Hodgson to dot down. 0-5
Sale responded in the 11th minute, winning a 5m lineout and driving to the line for Josh Brown to continue his fine try scoring season; Tom Curtis added a superb conversion from out wide. 7-5
The dogs joy was short lived however as DMP came roaring back with 3 tries in the space of 10 minutes through Yaree Fantini, Henry Hadfield and Matthew Minogue. 7-24
The blue and whites needed some inspiration and it came in the form of the returning Jared Williams who was at the base of another strong rolling maul to dive over. HT 12-24
The men from the Northeast had been the better side in the first 40 but Sale came out for the second half with renewed intent and the fight back was soon underway when, after several penalties near the whitewash, the referee awarded a penalty try. 19-24
Opposition prop, Joshua Crickmay, was shown a yellow card after the preceding play and the dogs took advantage of the extra man when quick hands saw Mark Dixon offload for Nev Edwards to score in the corner. 24-24
Momentum was in Sale’s hands now and they took the lead when another 5m lineout was won and the rolling maul, a thing of beauty all afternoon, took us to the line for Josh Brown to score his second of the game. 29-24
With two minutes to go, Oli Longmore wrapped the game up for Sale from yet another catch and drive before DMP got a deserved second bonus point with a try from Callum Pascoe. FT 34-31
The proverbial game of two halves with the dogs producing a superb second half performance to earn the spoils against a good visiting side who gave everything.