Sale FC begin season with assured victory

Sale FC kicked off the National League Two season with a comfortable 27-3 win over Otley at Heywood Road.

Full-back Tom Hodgson gave Otley a 3-0 lead with a seventh minute penalty, but Liam McGovern levelled the scores shortly after.

Chris Johnson then landed a drop-goal on the stroke of half-time to ensure Sale went into the break ahead.

Sale then extend their lead seconds after the restart as Chris Mayor darted over in the right corner before McGovern nudged his side further in front with another penalty.

McGovern kicked another two penalties either side of the hour to make it 20-3 before prop Joe Kelly touched down from close range in the final 10 minutes of the match to secure the win.

Sale had a tough campaign last year in National Two North as they survived the drop on the final day of the season. Key to them avoiding relegation was their home form and judging by this opening performance, that could well be a factor to any success they have this year as the Manchester based side dominated large spells of this contest.

But, it was Otley who started the stronger and were able to take advantage of early territory as Hodgson slotted over the penalty.

The wet and greasy conditions weren't aiding the players in the first half as a number of penalties for knock-ons were awarded. Sale eventually profited from that as McGovern bisected the posts for his first points of the season to make the game all square.

Both defences were standing firm, but Otley’s was having to work the harder as Sale looked to make inroads. The home side struggled to register the first try of the game as the half ticked by, but they did go close through McGovern who was held up over the line.

However, Sale would end the opening period in front as fly-half Johnson, who was making his debut, coolly slotted over a drop-goal to put his side in front after sustained pressure from the hosts.

Sale had been knocking at the door for large spells of the first 40 and it took less than 60 seconds in the second half for the home side to get their first try of the game as McGovern carved open the Otley defence and flicked the ball to Mayor who slid over in the corner.

McGovern failed with the tough conversion attempt and it looked like that could've cost the hosts as Otley nearly crossed from their first real attack of the game.

Scum-half Max Johnson darted through the Sale defence and popped the ball wide, but it fell loose. Winger Alex Beaumont did well to get a boot on the ball and nudge over the try line, but in the wet conditions he couldn't get a firm grounding on the ball which resulted in a knock on.

McGovern made Otley rue that missed opportunity as he slotted over another six points for his side. Otley's George Burkinshaw was then yellow carded as the Yorkshire outfit started to lose their discipline and it got worse for Peter Clegg’s team as Sale put the game beyond Otley a couple of minutes later.

Following a kick to the corner, the ball was worked to the middle by the Sale backs before the move was rounded off by Kelly as barged his way over by the posts to give Sale some breathing space in this contest. McGovern made no mistake with the extras which ultimately wrapped up an opening day win for the Blue and Whites.

National Two North

Elsewhere in National Two North today, title favourites Sedgley Park came from behind to beat Caldy 16-13 at Park Lane while Stourbridge got their campaign off to a winning start at home to South Leicester thanks to a 19-13 victory.

Wharfedale joined National Two North this season following relegation last term and the winning start they may have hoped for didn’t occur as Garth Dew’s Preston Grasshoppers came away from Skipton with an excellent 20-12 win.

Leicester Lions had a brilliant season last year ending the campaign in fourth place and they began this term with a 24-20 win over Tynedale as they aim to make Westleigh Park a fortress once again.

Two of the newly promoted sides in National Two North also started the new campaign with victories this afternoon. National Three Midlands champions Scunthorpe beat Chester 15-13 in Yorkshire while play-off winners Hinckley stunned Harrogate as they came away from Rudding Lane with a 21-7 win.

The same couldn’t be said for Sheffield Tigers though as they fell to a 22-10 defeat at home to the Luctonians who look like they have carried last season’s momentum into this campaign.

National Two South

Cinderford and Henley Hawks were sides that came down from National One in May, but both suffered contrasting results to begin their National Two South campaigns. Cinderford edged out Canterbury 14-7 on home soil, but Henley lost 23-18 to Redruth on their travels.  That win for The Reds could well send out a message to the rest of the league that Marek Chrucher’s side are certainly contenders for promotion this term.

Bishops Stortford are another side that could well challenge for the top spots this year and they began the season with a 20-13 win away at Barnes. Elsewhere, Taunton Titians came away from Old Bath Road with a 39-22 win over the Redingensians while Bury St Edmunds got off to a flyer as they beat Clifton 30-10.

And finally, all three newly promoted sides suffered defeats on the opening day of the season. Barnstaple lost 31-8 at home to the Old Elthamians, Exmouth were beaten 22-10 by Worthing Raiders and London Irish Wild Geese fell to a 47-10 loss against Chinnor.