Rotherham Titans vs Sale FC

Recap

Title for Titans as Sale fall just short

Sale FC headed to Clifton Lane looking to upset the apple cart for the second week running and prevent Rotherham from claiming the National One title and promotion to the Champ.

The match started in sweltering conditions and the hosts were soon in front as winger, Jackson Barling, scored out wide after several strong carries from the forwards; Lloyd Hayes added a fine conversion. 7-0

The lead was extended in the 11th minute when Hayes kicked a penalty from inside his own half, but Sale reduced the arrears 8 minutes later when a strong maul took the Dogs close for Dylan Hodkinson to stretch over; James Robins made no mistake from the tee. 10-7

Back came the Titans with Barling scoring his second in the corner, a score that made him the record try-scorer for the club in a single season. John Okafor then gave the home side a comfortable lead at the break after an unselfish pass from scrum half, JB Bruzulier. HT 22-7

The opening exchanges of the final 40 of the season were cagey but, as it has done many times this season, a 5m lineout proved fruitful for Sale as they caught and drove to the line for Nathan Langdon to dive over. 22-12

The match continued to be ultra-competitive and when the Dogs moved the ball wide at speed and Nev Edwards darted in and James Robins converted, nerves began to jangle in the home crowd. 22-19

However, Titans knew that one more try would give them the bonus point required to be crowned champions and it duly arrived in the 69th minute when Barling completed his hat-trick. 27-19

If anyone thought Sale were done for the day, they were wrong, as the Dogs showed immense character and togetherness to threaten to spoil the Rotherham party again. With 7 minutes left to play, the forwards bombarded the whitewash allowing skipper, Andy Hughes, to crash over and James Robins added the extras. 27-26

It wasn’t to be in the end though as the Titans put the icing on the cake with the final play of the game as Xavier Valentine was propelled over the line and Hayes then had the final say. FT 34-26

So the 2025-26 season drew to the close with Sale finishing in 5th position, leaving Blackheath and Plymouth to try and fight their way through the play-offs and join Rotherham in the Champ.