Sale FC vs Rotherham Titans

Recap

Titans power to opening day victory at Sale

On a glorious afternoon at the 120-year old Heywood Road ground, Sale FC and Rotherham Titans began their 2025/26 National One campaigns.

The visitors started strongly and were in front as early as the 3rd minute when hooker, Morgan Veness, crashed through the defence to score. 0-5

Three minutes later an attempted long pass from debutant, Will Addison, was just out of the reach of Tom Brady and opposing winger, Jackson Barling, gratefully scooped up the loose ball to saunter in with Richard Hayes adding the extras. 0-12

The power-packed Titans were winning most of the collisions and added further first-half tries through Jean-Baptiste Bruzulier and Mitchell Lacey, both converted by Hayes. 0-26

Sale lost prop, Ciaran Parker, to a yellow card in the 31st minute and Rotherham extended the lead with a penalty kick from Hayes, but the hosts finally got a toe in the game with a 40th minute score from Josh Brown; Will Addison adding the two. HT 7-29

The Dogs had it all to do but made the perfect start to the second half with a 41st minute try from Nathan Langdon and then a try for the returning Nev Edwards after incisive play from the backs; Will Addison converted both. 21-29

Any thoughts of an unlikely comeback were despatched by the Titans with two tries in three minutes around the 70 minute mark; Issac Shaw and John Okafor the beneficiaries with Hayes making no mistake with the kicks. 21-43

It was left to the hosts to conclude matters as a brilliant Will Addison break saw Sean Street grab a losing bonus point try with the former on target again from the tee. FT 28-43