Mowden fall to first away loss of the season at Heywood Road.

Mowden relinguished their 100% unbeaten away record in poor fashion at Sale FC RFC’s Heywood Road HQ, in a game constantly interrupted by the officials whistle.

In the end, Sale fully deserved their victory, scoring two good tries in the latter part of the game via centre Fergus MULCHRONE and Sale Sharks DR Raphael QUIRKE, with DMPRFC managing a late consolation via replacement Ollie WALKER.

Altogether Sale FC RFC’s match day squad contained four Sale Sharks RFC Jets in prop Bevan RODD, flanker Edward LEATHERBARROW, both who started the game and prop Callum FORD and try scorer Raphael QUIRKE, on the bench.

Mowden’s squad contained DR starters in prop Conrad CADE and scrum half Cameron NORDI-KELEMETI from the Newcastle Falcons RFC.

In a forgettable first half, Mowden scored a penalty after two minutes, Warren SEALS successful with the kick. (0 – 3)

But that was it from a scoring perspective, however, Sale FC RFC did lay siege to the visitors line for long periods towards the interval and with Mowden down to seven forwards with the sin-binning of flanker Dan GRANGE after a team penalty offence was determined by the referee, the visitors did well to repel a succession of attacking scrums and lineouts.

Sale had overtaken Mowdens slim advantage within fifteen minutes of the break, their sure-footed fly half James WILLIAMS registering with two penalties. (6 – 3)

The game only sprang to life in the final quarter, with Sale adding two tries, to Mowden’s single reposte.

Sale’s replacement scrum half QUIRKE, skilfully broke through the heart of the visitors defence, handing on to impressive centre Fergus MULCHRONE who sped in near the posts, (11 – 3), WILLIAMS adding the conversion. (13 – 3)

At this point, Mowden were again reduced in numbers, when stalwart prop Ralph APPLEBY was sin-binned for what appeared to be an innocuous front row of the scrum penalty, given by the referee’s assistant.

Within 3 minutes, Sale scored their second and match winning try, with MULCHRONE and QUIRKE again combining, but this time MULCHRONE breaking the visitors line, then kicking through for QUIRKE to gather and dive over the line. (18 – 3)

From the re-start and with only five minutes left, Mowden sprung into action and played like they know they can, attacking with pace, replacement wing Ollie WALKER forcing his way over in the corner, (18 – 8).

Mowden missed the conversion, but immediately launched back on the offensive when only some cynical tactics from the home side prevented any reward.

Sale’s No. 8, WILLIAMS and replacement prop Jake POPE were both sin-binned within the space of a minute, committing offences which could ultimately have led to two penalty tries for the visitors, as both offences were committed against Mowden players, either in the act of scoring or prior to making the final pass for the score.

Although Sale finished the game with 13-players, Mowden’s efforts were all in vain, as the referee blow for no side, on what was a very dull day in Manchester.