Not having beaten Sale FC RFC in the previous three encounters, was plenty of incentive for Mowden when the team stepped out onto the pitch, on a bitterly cold day at the Northern Echo Arena.

The first half was relatively close, with Mowden having plenty of possession, but on occasions failing to capitalise on several opportunities which presented themselves, until on 10 minutes, a penalty was awarded to the home side 5-metres out.

Lock Joe CRAGGS took a speculative quick tap and despite the attentions of three visiting defenders, he managed to stretch over for the opening score, (5 – 0) with fly half Warren SEALS converting from 22 metres wide out on the left 22m. (7 – 0)

Both sides battered each other, seeking ascendancy, but parity remained until after a further 15 minutes, Sale registered with a penalty from fly half Christopher JOHNSON, after Mowden had held on in the tackle. (7 – 3)

Sale flanker Jake BARON succumbed to injury at this stage, replaced by forward Ryan PARKINSON, closely followed by tight head prop Mathew TALAESE who appeared to be similarly hampered, replaced by forward Daniel MATTHEWS. However, TALAESE found himself re-introduced later in the game.

Mowden also replaced lock David FISHER who was returning from injury at this stage, with veteran lock Talite VAIOLETI entering the fray. Similarly FISHER was to play a further part in the game at a later stage.

After a further 5 minutes and with a penalty advantage awarded for a high tackle on hooker David Nelson, the ball found replacement lock Talite VAIOLETI who broke down the blind side to feed winger Brandon ASHER-WOOD who flew down his wing, chipping over the visiting full back, winning the footrace to gather the ball over the line to score. (12 – 3)

Just prior to oranges, Sale responded well, when the ball was whisked out to Sale’s player of the match, No. 8 Jared WILLIAMS, feeding the backs out wide, who inter-passed for winger Jack CULVERHOUSE to score, (12 – 8) JOHNSON converting. (12 – 10)

So at the break, although Mowden had the lion’s share of possession, honours were pretty even.

The second half was a different story, as Mowden piled on the pressure from the restart and after only 3 minutes, a planned move in the centre of midfield saw home winger Callum MACKENZIE cut a sything line through the Sale defence. When he was hauled down within the 22-metre line, he shipped on to centre Ben FRANKLAND who likewise was brought down by an excellent defensive cover tackle, but just managed to pass off the ground to flanker Tom MARSHALL who was in close support to score near the posts. (17 – 10) SEALS converted from close range. (19 – 10)

Almost immediately Mowden fashioned the ball from out of their 20m to wing ASHER-WOOD who injected enough pace to reach the halfway line, where he unleashed lock Max Davies who sprinted a full 49-metres to score. (24 – 10)

At this stage Mowden were reduced in numbers when SEALS was yellow-carded for pulling back an opponent.

As the game entered the final quarter, from the back of a scrum within their own 22-metre line, Mowden No. 8 Hodgson made good progress, where VAIOLETI picked up the ball from the resulting ruck and smashed his way through four defenders, before passing to scrum half McKirdy, who shipped on to full back Chris McTURK out wide. McTURK, finding his progress halted by encroaching defenders chipped and chased and just when everyone, including Sale’s defenders, thought that the ball was heading out and dead, McTURK managed to put downward pressure on the ball for the score. (29 – 10)

Sale attacked from the restart, but the ball was intercepted by the sharp-eyed McTURK who gathered and ran 78-metres for the score. (34 – 10)

Mowden were again reduced to 14-players, when flanker Joe CRAGGS was yellow carded and Sale managed to take advantage and after a final attack, the ball fell to wing Jonty RAWCLIFFE who dotted down for a consolation score. (34 – 15)